Indaba, Chenin Blanc, 2021

Indaba Chenin Blanc is made from South Africa's most widely planted variety and it is the Cape's signature white grape. Indaba's fresh, easy-drinking version offers vibrant flavours of honeyed pear, golden delicious apple and luscious tropical fruit. Lively peppery notes and an underlying mineral character shine through on the finish. Ideal with or without food.

Bruwer Raats who makes this wine is an absolute genius with Chenin Blanc. Only about 5% of the wine is matured in oak, a touch that gives a little bit of width on the palate without interfering with the fine, pure fruit flavours.

Indaba Chenin Blanc grapes were sourced from select vineyard sites in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland, characterised by soils of Table Mountain sandstone, decomposed Dolomite granite and shale. More than half of the vines are low-yielding dry farmed bush vines, with an average age of 20+ years.

The grapes were handpicked in the cool early morning hours, de-stemmed and lightly crushed. The juice was then cold fermented in stainless steel tanks over a period of 2-3 weeks. The Indaba Chenin Blanc was aged on its lees in tank for two months. A small portion (2%) was fermented in 300 litre French oak barrels and aged on the lees for six months for enhanced richness and texture on the palate.

Chenin Blanc is a forgotten hero in terms of white wine grapes and this is a classic example of both the grape variety and the art of making terrific wines. The wine is fresh and mineral, just as it should be with flavours of green apples on the palate in abundance.

From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:

Pale bright yellow. Sexy aromas of honey, flowers and stone fruits show attractive peppery lift. Supple, rich and lightly saline in an easy-drinking style, this should be versatile at the dinner table. A touch of wood (2% of the wine was fermented and aged on its lees in used French oak) and 4.5g/l residual sugar give this wine good texture. 88 Points

• ❖ ABV: 14%