Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2015

Bright golden colour with a limpid appearance. Floral and fresh citrus notes with undertones of freshly cut pineapple. The palage is filled with mouth-watering flavoured tropical fruits like pears and apricots. The 2015 Chenin Avec Chêne has a real zesty acidity with slight notes of oakiness giving this wine a great balance and structure.

This is a true gastronomic wine and works wonderfully with most foods from sushi to piquant ripe creamy cheeses such as Epoisse or Dalewood Winelands Camembert. Do not over chill – serve at 14 – 16°C.

variety : Chenin Blanc [ 100% Chenin Blanc ]

winery : Simonsig Wine Estate

winemaker : Johan Malan

wine of origin : Stellenbosch

analysis : alc : 13.88 % vol rs : 2.3 g/l pH : 3.39 ta : 6.3 g/l

type : White style : Dry body : Full wooded

pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Cork

AWARDS

2014
2016 Platter's Guide: 4 stars
2015 IWSC: Gold Medal
2015 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge: Winner
2015 Tim Atkin SA Wine Report 2015: 93 points
2015 Veritas Awards: Bronze Medal
2015 Tim Atkins: 93 Points
2012
2014 Concours Mondial De Bruxelles: Gold Medal
2014 Veritas: Gold Medal
91 Points Wine Advocate - November 2013
2010
2014 Wine of the Month Club Awards: The Reserve Club
2014 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10: Winner
2013 Wine of the Month Club Awards: Best Chenin Blanc
2013 20th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: Silver Medal
2013 Platter’s Guide: 4 Stars
2012 Veritas Awards : Gold medal
2009
93 Points Wine Advocate - May 2012
2011 Platter’s Guide: 4 stars
Wine Magazine 2010 Chenin blanc Challenge: Top 12
Wine Magazine: 4 stars in February 2011 issue
2008
2010 Chenin Blanc Challenge - 4.5 stars
Winemakers Choice International Awards - Diamond Award
2007
2009 Platter's Guide - 4 stars

ageing : At its best within 3 – 4 years of vintage date.

Heritage
Simonsig Chenin Blanc was the first wine released by founder Frans Malan in 1968. The experience of more than four decades of working with Chenin blanc resulted in this lightly wooded version. We realised that Chenin blanc grown on weathered shale gives the most intense perfumed fruit. Gently handled oak enhances the depth of flavour without obscuring the delicious fruitiness. The name of this wine means "Chenin with oak".

Style of Wine
Full bodied Chenin blanc matured in wood.

in the vineyard : The 2015 harvest is definitely one for the books. We had the earliest start in decades. Warmer weather in August resulted in earlier bud break, after which a warm, dry, windy summer accelerated ripening by approximately two weeks. The dry weather also led to a very healthy vintage. We started picking Chenin blanc on the 9th of February and literally hopped from one block to another. It was a case of fast and furious, picking all the Chenin Blanc in pristine condition and where the sugar levels were one of the main precursors. The healthy vineyards delivered grapes with beautiful layers of fruit and we are very excited about the results of the 2015 vintage.

about the harvest: Grapes were all hand-picked and well sorted from our oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard (1986).

in the cellar : Juice was inoculated with a selected yeast culture and fermentation started in a stainless steel tank and fermented at about 12°C. When the juice reached a balling of about 5 it was transferred to 400 litre French oak barrels (3rd and 4th fill) to complete fermentation. The wine spent a total of 9 months in barrel and no malolactic fermentation took place.

Wood Maturation: 9 months oaking. 100% French oak 3rd and 4th fill barrels.

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OTHER VINTAGES - not for sale

Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2017

Chenin Blanc

Johan Malan

Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2016

Chenin Blanc

Johan Malan

Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2015

Chenin Blanc

Johan Malan