Daniel Ciolek

9.0

A nice South African Syrah from a young winemaker I met at a pairing dinner last year. Nose of anise and dark cherry. Palate is medium bodied and well balanced with mouth watering acidity and soft tannins. Palate leaning towards more earthy flavors of dried leaves clove, moss and soft minerals with smoothing blackberry dark cherry and currant fruit undertones. Finish is remarkably crisp. Overall an interesting and unique presentation of Syrah. — a year ago

Galen Hasler

9.0

Mod tannins, fresh buttery, almond — 3 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2020 | lots of minerals, pleasant bitters, no crowdpleaaer this wine from the palomino grape — 3 years ago

Erica Gamble

9.0

Very drinkable and enjoyable. — a year ago

Jess

9.0

Pale-medium ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, blackberry
Dry. Flavors of fresh blackberry, violet, hint of anise. Dark and fresh. Soft tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 2 years ago

Henry Boshoff

9.0

Bok day wine! Very nice wine with best pasta ever! — 3 years ago

with Alicia

Galen Hasler

9.1

Chenin color and body with hint of oak. Crisp acidity. Pear and tangerine — 3 years ago

Krzysiek Be

8.9

Pinot noir z RPA, przyjemnie zrównoważone, jest wszystko co ma być, wiśnia, bez, czereśnia — 2 years ago

Iwan

9.0

Lovely Bordeaux blend from South Africa. Medium bodied, good structure and acidity, welll balanced. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

If you’re looking for an excellent wine to pair with sushi, try a crisp, dry Chenin Blanc! If you’ve already tried this combo, you know what I’m talking about…

Chenin Blanc can have a mouth-watering structure and elegant fruit profile, lending brightness and lift to a meal with delicate fish flavors, without overpowering it.

This Chenin comes from South Africa (locally called “Steen”), produced by Lievland Vineyards (“Loveland” in Afrikaans), owned by MAN Family Wines, in the district of Stellenbosch, in the Coastal Region located on the Western Cape.

We’re grateful we had the opportunity to sample this wine with Winemaking Director, Tyrrel Myburgh (also Co-Founder of MAN), who was in town for The Wine Company’s trade tasting event last year. It definitely left a lasting impression. At roughly $17.99/bottle at retail, it’s delivering an excellent quality (and value) for the price.

The grapes come from old, dry-farmed bush vines in the district of Paarl, just north of Stellenbosch. Vines like this tend to produce lower yields, which often translates to more concentrated fruit (“less is more”). The juice was fermented in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak vessels, followed by 2 months of aging on the lees; choices that lend balance, complexity, and richness to the resulting wine.

With that, let’s get to the tasting note! This wine is pale lemon with medium (+) intensity of aromas, including, fresh and vibrant lemon, lime, yellow apple, just-ripe peach, apricot, white blossom, lemongrass, wet slate, salinity, gunflint, and toast. It has a hint of struck match, as well. The palate is dry with medium alcohol (13% ABV), a medium body, and medium (+) acidity giving way to riper, rounder flavors emphasizing the stone fruit characteristics. The finish lingers.

Cheers exploring the wonderful world of Steen! — 3 years ago

with Deked1