Indaba Chenin Blanc – Zesty & Tasty

Over the past year I’ve become a big fan of chenin blanc from South Africa.  And while I’ve enjoyed it a number of times over the past year, I just realized that I haven’t yet posted any chenin blanc reviews.  It’s time to change that.

Chenin blanc originates from the Loire Valley in France, but has become the most widely planted grape variety in South Africa.  Some researchers suspect that chenin blanc is one of the parents of sauvignon blanc.

It’s hard to generalize the flavor profile of chenin blanc as it is a fairly versatile grape that can take on a range of characteristics, from dry and mineral, to vibrant and citrusy, to lively and tropical.  This one falls somewhere between citrus and mineral, but has some other qualities as well.

The nose is a little tight on this wine, but pleasant, offering light lemon, melon and salty sea breeze aromas. The palate is much more lively, with zesty lemon, grapefruit, white peach and granny smith apple flavors.  It’s crisp, slightly tart and very refreshing.  It’s more of a fun chenin blanc than an elegant one, but it’s definitely tasty.

Wine: Indaba Chenin Blanc
Variety: Chenin blanc
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $10.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.

Find Indaba Chenin Blanc with Snooth