Summer is the time for picnics and beach days. Whether it’s crisp whites for al fresco dining, bold Chardonnays to enhance the flavours of a delightful meal or a refreshing glass of bubbly to enjoy as you sit back and soak up the sun, Caroline’s White Wine Review is always one of the most coveted events on the South African wine calendar.
Caroline’s White Wine Review is a world-class showcase of the Cape’s 70 finest white wines and 15 Cap Classiques, crafted by top tier winemakers. If was hosted at The Lookout Venue in the V&A Waterfront with only 85 accolade-achieving winemakers, the crème de la crème of South African wine producers, had the opportunity to present just one wine on the night.
CAP CLASSIQUE
Saltare Brut Rosé 2020
The Brut Rosé is has a seductive salmon-tinted colour and is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. It spends 18 months on the lees. Red currant and cherry with a delicate, dry, mineral palate and beautiful brioche and almond on the finish.
Silverthorn The Green Man 2020
Made from 100% Chardonnay. Fresh aromas of green apple and acacia blossom backed up by subtle hints of minerality and whiffs of freshly baked brioche. Well balanced with an elegant structure, fine mousse which imparts a gentle explosion of bubbles on the palate and a long finish.
Vondeling Rurale 2018
Vondeling Rurale is comprised of Chardonnay and Pinotage. The wine displays a pale straw colour typical of bubbly that has enjoyed the benefits of extended lees maturation. Tiny, pearl-string bubbles and fine mousse abound. Beautiful aromas of lavender honey, lime, crisp apple with freshly baked pastry, and toasted almonds on the nose. The palate is bright and zippy with vibrant acidity and a soft, creamy mouthfeel.
Le Lude Venus Nature Millesime 2014
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Aromas of baked white pear and hints of fresh ocean spray. On the palate flavours of frangipane are complimented by a lingering crisp minerality. A soft pearl and delicate velvet mouthfeel from careful sur lie maturation carries the balance of the wine.
Krone Borealis Brut 2020
Made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. It’s salmon-pink with an elegant floral bouquet of delicate pomegranate and cut red apples. The mousse is fine and creamy with a pinch of juice and red berries.
Boschendal Jean Le Long Brut 2009
The seductive pale gold colour, with a flourish of tiny bubbles, capture the imagination immediately, followed by enticing lemon cream, beeswax, pink grapefruit and toasty brioche aromas that persist onto an intricate palate. Here the beautiful citrus core of lemon and orange zest opens up, along with rich roast nuts and flattering minerality finishing with extraordinary length and freshness.
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Anthonij Rupert COGH Altima Sauvignon Blanc 2022
The palate is deliciously crisp, tangy and succulent. Grapefruit flavour with a zippy lemon skin and a subtle pea nuance.
Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020
This Sauvignon Blanc offers a floral notes of orchids, white fruits, ripe nectarine, pink grapefruit and fig. The wine’s palate is full and flavoured with racy acidity and a salty finish. Hints of oak spice gives the wine an extra layer of depth.
Constantia Uitsig Sauvignon Blanc 2022
This crisp sauvignon blanc features a complex nose with peach and tropical fruit aromas balanced with hints of nettles, litchi, and elderflower. The tropical fruit notes carry through to the palate with distinctive spanspek flavours leading to a refreshing lime aftertaste.
Reyneke Reserve White 2020
Aromas of lime, fennel and elderflower are immediately apparent on the nose, accompanied by distinct flinty notes and hints of blackcurrant & lemon zest. This wine is well structured, with the fruit flavours of lemon and granny smith apple balanced by a fine acidity and some oak complexity. The wine lingers on your palate creating a lasting impression of finesse.
Trade Winds Sauvignon Blanc 2021
This beautifully balanced Sauvignon Blanc, with a soft rounded finish, combines the character of fresh-cut grass and the more complex tropical flavours of peach and apricot.
SEMILLON
Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2020
A beautiful complexity is met with aromas of crunchy green apple, sweet pea, lime blossom, green plum and a hint of lanolin. Balanced and with exceptional length and fruit intensity, the bright acidity and saline aftertaste tastes the final bow.
Old Road Wine Company Grande Mere Semillon 2020
The wine is elegant and refined, with opulent pear, kumquat and citrus peel flavours, sweet exotic spice and a textured mouth-feel. The flavours evolve and persist from the entry onto the palate, with layers of succulent tropical fruit and candied citrus flavours unfolding. The well-defined fruit is balanced by a mouth watering acidity and a lingering minerality on the finish.
The Vineyard Party I’m Your Huckleberry 2019
A delicious skin contact Semillon with lovely chalky aromas, a green limey character, crystalline citrus fruit, green apple and peach plus some waxy, earthy notes. A fresh and textured palate with good acidity and a long and savoury finish.
WHITE BLENDS
Highlands Road Sine Cera 2017
This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. On the nose you get intense aromas of tropical fruit and hints of lemon zest. Fruit follows on palate with great natural acidity and lingering taste. Lovely smooth wine, slightly oaked with elegant finish.
Anysbos Disdit 2021
A beautiful blend of Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Marsanne. The palate is zesty with lemon and lime over almond paste texture, lightly toasted nuts, and a lingering ripe yellow stone fruit concentration. There is a lovely balance between the citric line of acidity and richer fruit weight. Full of flavour, yet elegant and nicely reigned in. As the wine opens up aromas of fynbos and will fennel persist on a very long and refined finish.
Luddite Saboteur White 2021
A blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Blanc Fumé. Pale straw with glints of green. Orange blossom, peach and apricot on the nose with White peaches and green plums on entry. A broad, lean mid-pallet with a salty, citrus finish.
Sijnn White 2020
A precious colour of gold. Beautiful mandarin, orange saline threads on the palate, followed by a very fine acidity. Lovely peach pith, apricots and nuttiness. It is rather textured and expresses more minerality than fruit. A gentle honeysuckle and beeswax on the after taste.
Rall White 2021
A blend that consists of Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Viognier. It has a beautifully detailed bouquet with mineral-rich citrus fruit, quite slate-like with impressive focus. The palate is saline on the entry, lightly spiced with a subtle oily texture, long and tender on the finish.
CHENIN BLANC
Damascene Swartland Chenin Blanc 2021
White pears, orchard apples, and a touch of mango follow. A spicy fynbos thread runs right down the middle, unfurling into a savoury, dry finish.
Lievland Vineyards Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2021
Showing notes of white peach, citrus and pineapple on the nose. The mouthfeel is rich and ripe and is coupled with a vibrant acidity. Trying all the elements together on the finish is a compelling minerality.
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Chenin Blanc 2018
This complex and classy wine offers aromas of white blossoms and ginger, as well as yellow stone fruit complemented by hints of oak on the nose. Its intense palate is packed with minerality and an abundance of freshness.
Mullineux Schist Chenin Blanc 2021
Highlighted by fresh quince, white peach and hints of lime, the nose of this Chenin Blanc is greatly inviting, and it follows through with a firm chalky texture and a lively, zesty finish.
NICHE VARIETALS
Botanica Flower Girl Albarino 2022
This Albariño spent time fermenting in a concrete egg and stainless tank on its lees for three months. Intensely aromatic with fresh pink fruits such as grapefruit and peach! Zesty with acidic notes on the palate.
Moya Meaker Riesling 2021
Joyful vibrancy of fresh cherries, the coolness of newly budded roses and subtle hits of spiced black plum and white pepper, career along gracefully and evolve onto a palate shot through with blood orange zing.
CHARDONNAY
Bartinney Chardonnay 2020
On the palate, the subtle sweetness and fresh acidity marries well to result in a very elegant wine. As on the nose, the oak component is well integrated and provides vanilla and coconut notes to offset the fresh and vibrant fruit and almond notes. The texture is velvety and carries through to a long finish.
De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2020
It portrays a spectrum of flavours framed in elegance and complexity, typical features of a classic Chardonnay. Citrus and pear-drop notes are complemented by an intriguing nuttiness, with elegant citrus on the finish.
Weltevrede Place Of Rocks Chardonnay 2021
On the nose you get an intense mixture of dried pear, dried apricot and ripe lemons. The very flavourful palate reveals ripe lemons and dried mango.
Richard Kershaw Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2019
Restrained, mineral style focussed on elegance with a white fruit character, some oatmeal and some complexity gained from percipient applied wood.
Thelema Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay 2019
Aromas of ripe peach, grapefruit marmalade, blossoms and complex yeasty flavours complement the toasty oak in the wine. The palate is clean with a lovely texture and long finish.
Longridge Clos du Ciel Chardonnay 2018
Citronella and lemongrass aromatics envelop more subtle primary fruit that include peach skin and naartjie peel. Then also hints of vanilla, baked apple, marzipan and honey. Bone dry, savoury finish.
Laarman Focal Point Chardonnay 2021
Voluptuous body with aromas of buttered toast and crème bruleé. Firm structure with a range of citrus perfumes, especially mandarin, with a touch of ginger and a nutty character. The finish is seamless and lingers long after the last drop.
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay Magnum 2019
A style characterised by refreshing linear acidity and mouthfilling fruit textures. Classic Nine Yards flavours with lime citrus and fragrant oak spice.
Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2021
The nose is incredibly inviting; ripe apricots, naartjie, quince and loquat aromas are in abundance. The touch of oak is well integrated, with a light vanilla and slightly smoky characteristics floating at the edge of perception.
Neil Ellis Whitehall Elgin Chardonnay 2021
This wine has an attractive bouquet and brings together aromas of lime, with nectarine and flinty mineral aromas. Tightly structured palate and bouquet blend into a subtle harmony. This wine combines grace with a well-defined character and a remarkable concentration.
Newton Johnson Chardonnay 2021
This is a very complete, balanced wine, with 30% new wood, citrus, oatmeal and cinnamon spice flavours, pithy acidity, a drizzle of cream and commendable palate length.
Categories: Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar
