This bottle was my favorite pick from The Austin Wine Merchant Wines of South Africa Tasting yesterday. We were fortunate to pick up the last bottle of the Villion Henning 2016 Chenin Blanc that was in stock.
Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted varietal in South Africa, occupying approximately 20% of acreage under vine. Chenin’s origins are in the Loire Valley of France, but it has found a second home in South Africa. The grapes for this particular wine were grown in the Bot River Ward within the Walker Bay District. Walker Bay is located at almost the southernmost tip of South Africa, on the southwest aspect of the Atlantic Coast. The coastal location provides for a cool maritime climate, ideal for producing wines that require preserved acidity in the grapes like Chenin Blanc.
This wine was a lovely example of a Chenin Blanc. The nose was that of an Old World wine with prominent yeasty notes and a “funkiness,” but the palate was all fruit with ripe green apple, Meyer lemon and peaches layered with hints of freshly washed sheets. The wine was fermented on the skins, resulting in a slightly darker color and a nice round mouthfeel. The Chenin grape always brings the acidity and this wine was no exception, with a nice zippy acidity that was well balanced by the full body. I’d call this one a great value at $17.50.