Alexander Fontein Chip Off The Old Block Sauvignon Blanc 2013

I don’t know if you have listened to the new U2 single recorded for the Madiba movie yet, but it is once again a great song! That’s the thing with U2; album after album they produce music of the highest quality. It might differ in style a bit from album to album, but you know it will be good.

That’s a bit how I feel about the higher end Sauvignon Blancs from Alexander Fontein. The Chip off the old Block Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is one of these, affirming their status as one of the best Sauvignon Blanc producers with this wine named in the FNB Top Ten Sauvignon Blancs of 2013. The nose is generous with gooseberries, granadilla, and ripe figs the prominent flavours. The fruit continues on the palate and is complimented by a soft minerality, good acidity which is beautifully balanced, and a very long finish. It is a great wine, and when you consider the price (it sells for about R70 per bottle) it gets even better! This is one of the Sauvignon Blancs to stock up on for those really hot days ahead in the summer.

Score: 17

Stellenrust 48 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2012

Why is it that when someone does something brilliant your first inclination is to laugh? John Mayer was talking in an interview about one of the John Mayer Trio songs a few years back, and he was commenting on their approach to covering a Hendrix song. They just starting jamming it, and suddenly Steve Jordan (the drummer) started playing this insane beat, and all John Mayer and Pino Palladino (the bassist) could do was laugh. Laugher is the awkward reaction to something so brilliant that we don’t know what else to do!

That was my reaction upon tasting the 48 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2012 by Stellenrust. This wine is fast becoming one of the iconic Chenin’s in South Africa, performing brilliantly year in and out, as portrayed in this specific vintage by winning the IWSC Chenin Trophy. On the nose there are under ripe pineapple, wet hay, wet wool, and hints of pear. On the palate the fruit shines through beautifully with ripe pear and soft pineapple flavours combining perfectly with touches of vanilla, giving it a fatty palate which I just love. The use of oak on this wine, together with a good acidity, ensures that ageing will not be a problem for this wine. It cost R115 per bottle, so go and buy this by the case for one bottle will not be enough! It is much like Hendrix in that if you start listening you want to put the album on repeat and just keep the magic flowing!

Score: 17.5

Alexander Fontein Sauvignon Blanc 2013

There is nothing better than a quaffer of a Sauvignon Blanc to get you through those hot summer days, and for the last couple of years that wine has been the Alexander Fontein Sauvignon Blanc. So I thought I’d give the new vintage (2013) a try. It retails for around R50 a bottle – depending on where you buy it – and to place the cherry on top of an already tasty cake, it won gold at the recent Veritas awards.

On the nose you find gooseberries, green figs, and just a hint of minerality. The palate is in the same vein with the gooseberries shining through, accompanied by notes of passion fruit and subtle asparagus. The acidity on this wine is very high, and normally I love that in a Sauvignon Blanc, but in this one it is so high that it bothered even me a bit. It just threw the balance of the wine completely off. I even struggled to finish my second glass, and that is a pity, because it ruins what otherwise is a good wine. So for the same price I would rather buy the more balanced Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc to have my back this summer…

Score: 15