Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 2021 | Elegance and refinement — 2 months ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Not a Pinotage Fan, however upon 1st tastes….highly acceptable — 3 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.2

The lemon meringue of wines without any of the dessert sugar. All soft cream and lemon. Not usually a fan of Chenin Blanc, I could drink this one all day. — 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

👁This wine is pale ruby with a delicate haze.

👃On the nose, it offers medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas, including notes of ripe cherry, strawberry rhubarb, fresh raspberry, 🍒🍓 also tulip🌷, violet, red licorice, fennel, dill, nutmeg, and wet moss.

👄On the palate this wine is dry. It has med (+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and medium(+) intensity of flavors consistent with the nose. It also has a medium(+) finish. I find it has good complexity and balance. 👌👌

This wine was fermented with native, wild yeast in concrete or steel and then aged in neutral oak barrels for about six months. According to the @scribewinery website, it comes from "vineyards planted with equal parts of two California heritage clones ideal for the region’s dense clay: Martini and Pommard. The Martini grapes add spice and fresh, high tones complemented by the Pommard’s natural earthiness."

Scribe, Carneros, XII. Beauty Blue, Pinot Noir, Vintage 2018. ABV 13.5%.

Los Carneros, meaning 'the rams' in Spanish, is a unique wine region because it is shared between Sonoma County and Napa Valley. It is one of my favorite places in Califorina for Pinot Noir. With the coastal breezes and fog channeling inland from San Pablo Bay, the vines have a combination of sun and cooling moderators, to aid in both the ripening and the preservation of acidity / brightness of character, which can ultimately lead to a well-balanced, but also well-concentrated wine.

I picked this up at @france_44 and would definitely buy it again. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Rodianne Formosa

9.0

@Keith Galdies :) fifi — 9 years ago

with Keith

Tim Mustill

9.4

Excellent wine, so very different to the usual CB. It's like what Te Koko is to Cloudy Bay SB. — 11 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Capensis Silene Chardonnay 2023
Stellenbosch, South Africa 🇿🇦

Overview
A beautifully balanced, quietly impressive Chardonnay from Stellenbosch that lands right in the sweet spot between freshness, texture, and subtle oak influence. This southern-hemisphere expression favors finesse over flash, lightly creamy from restrained malolactic fermentation, gently kissed by oak, and anchored by crisp mineral tension. Surprisingly polished, dangerously drinkable, and quietly sophisticated.

Aromas & Flavors
Delicate tropical fruit, ripe citrus, and soft stone fruit lead the aromatics, followed by subtle toast and cream. On the palate, clean yellow fruit, gentle orchard notes, and a whisper of vanilla spice carry through, finishing with refreshing mineral lift and excellent clarity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a silky, lightly rounded texture. The balance between freshness and softness is spot-on, dry, lightly mineral, and effortlessly smooth without ever feeling heavy or overworked.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken or turkey with herbs. Grilled halibut, scallops, or shrimp. Creamy pasta with lemon and herbs. Mushroom risotto. Soft cheeses (Brie, Camembert, triple-cream styles).

Verdict
A dangerously enjoyable Chardonnay that punches well above its weight. Think of it as a warm-climate cousin to Petit Chablis, bright, clean, lightly textured, and refreshingly precise. A true crowd-pleaser that still keeps serious wine lovers engaged.

Did You Know?
Stellenbosch benefits from cooling maritime breezes off False Bay, helping preserve acidity and freshness in Chardonnay while still allowing full ripeness, a key reason many top South African Chards show both precision and generous fruit expression.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Chardonnay that aligns with my own preferences , a surprising bottle to pour among friends that consistently overdelivers and disappears faster than expected.
— 5 months ago

Francine Higham

9.1

A lovely, easy drinking wine. Perfect for cold evenings in front of the fire. — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.0

Really enjoyed this. Very ripe, chocolate-y and satisfyingly acidic. Plenty of tannin and a reasonably long finish. Great value Cab blend and would enjoy drinking again. — 6 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Medium to light golden yellow with tiny bubbles. Layered nose with a bit of marzipan, lemon curd, stone fruits and brioche. Medium acidity (6/10) and medium minus bodied. Great citrus zest on the palate with a hint of yeast and tree fruits. Medium finish. Drink till 2025. — 7 years ago

with India

Albert Phelps

8.9

After a few minutes, opens up to a very smooth wine — 10 years ago

Severn G

9.2

2017 | Grenache
Blackwater Wines; Daniel, Na-Bot Vineyard
Walker Bay; Botrivier, South Africa
(91-93; Drink 2022-2032)
Inaugural vintage. — 3 years ago

Karolina Arkell

9.0

Good with sushi. — 3 years ago

Patrick O Driscoll

9.7

Orginator g from the cool maritime climate aligned to the elegance and fine fruit concentration, grown on the mountainous slopes of Constantia with a beautiful view over false bay. This wine is balanced and delivers freshness throughout. — 5 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

Near equal parts of Rousanne, Chenin and Chardonnay backed by Verdelho and a touch of Muscat sourced from Hamel en Aarde in Walker Bay, South Africa. Low intervention winemaking with elevage in old, neutral wood.
A fab complexity on the nose with a generous fruit, ranging from bruised apple, juicy peaches, orange blossom, through some tropical characters with a honeyd edge followed by toasted nuts and a mother rock-minerality. Rich on the palate but with a fresh acidity and a savoury dimension, ripe fruit drives the palate with a creamy slight waxy mid palate through a dry and solid finish. A performance that hits well above its modest price, though fall somewhat short on the finish to play in the big league, nevertheless an other remarkable wine from Alheit.
Serve at 10-12 degrees in generous burgundy glasses — 5 years ago

Jordy Kiewiet

9.0

€22,50
Lekker, vanille hout — 7 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.1

Blackcurrant and cinnamon. Very nice. — 10 years ago

Stefan Aichner

9.7

fabulous cab franc? — 12 years ago