Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2022
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
A vibrant Chenin Blanc with a brilliant clear color. A burst of tropical and stone fruit aromas ranging from passion fruit and melon to yellow flesh peach. A beautifully structured palate with layers of grapefruit, pear and tropical fruits. Lively acidity contributes freshness and length making this an exceptional summer wine. A true expression of Simonsig terroir.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chenin Blanc starts with a pale lemon color and a fresh nose of bright citrus, yellow apple and wax melon. Medium-bodied, fresh and zesty, the palate is food friendly with mouth-watering acidity that makes me crave fresh seafood, cheeses and salads. The wine continues to evolve, ending with a hint of herbal green citrus and lime candy notes.
Other Vintages
2020-
Wine
Enthusiast
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Wilfred
Wong -
James
Suckling
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred
Wong
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Robert
Parker
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Wine
Spectator
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Wine &
Spirits
The Simonsig vineyard lies Northwest of Stellenbosch and is privately owned by the Malan family. It produces some of the finest red and white wines as well as a sparkling wine made by the Cap Classique Methode – the local Champenoise. The Stellenbosch region is recognized as the best wine producing area in South Africa and lies 45 kilometres east of Cape Town.
The first Malan who came to South Africa in 1688 was a French Huguenot. At the Cape of Good Hope, then under Dutch rule, he was given land to plant new vineyards. He subsequently settled near Stellenbosch which became famous for its quality wines. It is still known as the champion wine region of South Africa.
The Simonsig Estate vineyard stretches out over 211 hectares around the northern side of Stellenbosch at the foot of the Simons mountain. It is generally acknowledged as the largest private producer of estate wines in South Africa.
Simonsig produces numerous varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinotage.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.