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