Ina Smith, the driving force behind the annual Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge, announced the 2023 winners and remarked, “Chenin Blanc has evolved into the primary gateway grape for the South African wine category.” This milestone coincides with the competition’s tenth anniversary this year.
Once overlooked as the vineyard’s “ugly duckling,” Cape Chenin has gracefully transformed into a swan, celebrated for its excellence, elegance, and ability to captivate. The competition plays a pivotal role in encouraging and expediting advancements in quality and style.
Cape Chenin’s rising reputation extends beyond being South Africa’s signature white wine; it now serves as an ambassador for all South African wines, enticing international trade buyers and consumers to explore the nation’s diverse wine offerings.
The annual challenge, which received a record 144 entries this year, is hosted by the Chenin Blanc Association (CBA). Since its establishment in 2000, the CBA has worked diligently to enhance the stature, credibility, and support for Chenin Blanc across various styles. Their targeted marketing initiatives have garnered favor with sommeliers, critics, and influential tastemakers worldwide.
In the journey to elevate Cape Chenin’s profile and standing, Higgo Jacobs, the chair of the 2023 judging panel, emphasized that the variety has reached a “benchmark” status on the global stage. The winning wines this year impressed with increased concentration, fruit intensity, and palate length, attributes attributed to vine maturity, improved viticulture, ambitious pricing strategies, and the innovative spirit fueled by the competition itself.
Jacobs also noted the impactful collaboration between local Chenin producers and their counterparts in the Loire Valley, which has inspired greater stylistic complexity and elegance in this year’s selections, often expressed in “tight, nervy wines that take time to unfold.”
The use of various maturation techniques, including steel, concrete, new oak, older and larger barrels, and amphorae, has added nuanced finesse to the winning wines. Interestingly, this year, a majority (60%) of the winners were sealed with screwcaps, underscoring that closure type is no longer the sole indicator of wine quality.
Standard Bank rewards each of the ten best Chenin Blanc producers with a cash prize. A unique condition of the competition is that the prize money must be utilized to improve the quality of life for farm workers and their communities. Simone Cooper, Head of Business and Commercial Banking for Standard Bank South Africa, highlighted that over R2.35 million has been allocated to a range of farm-worker community projects, spanning education, youth development, housing, and healthcare. This gesture acknowledges the pivotal role played by farm workers in producing award-winning wines.
Cooper also emphasized Standard Bank’s ongoing commitment to the South African wine industry, fostering excellence and innovation at home and expanding internationally through various energy and trade solutions. The bank’s partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has been particularly successful in helping South African wine producers access the world’s largest domestic consumer market.
The Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge 2023 winners, listed alphabetically, are:
- Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2022
- Antonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Riebeeksrivier Chenin Blanc 2021
- Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Garden Chenin Blanc 2022
- Flagstone Paradigm Chenin Blanc Reserve 2020
- KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2021
- Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022
- Stellenrust B28 (Fairtrade) Chenin Blanc 2022
- Stellenrust Next Level Chenin Blanc 2022
- Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc 2021
- Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc 2022
Stellenrust stands out with a record four wines on the Top Ten list this year, maintaining its consistent winning streak throughout the challenge’s ten-year history. Antonij Rupert makes its debut on the list, while Alvi’s Drift, Durbanville Hills, KWV, and Lievland are all repeat winners.
The results reflect a remarkable consistency in the application of judging criteria, even with a predominantly new panel of judges for this year’s competition.
The panel, chaired by Higgo Jacobs, a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, included:
- Ginette de Fleuriot, a Cape Wine Master and lecturer at the Cape Wine Academy
- Malu Lambert, an internationally acclaimed wine writer and judge
- Shawn Mathyse, a winemaker at Ken Forrester Wines
- Jo Wessels, a top-ranked sommelier worldwide and wine business graduate
- Shane Mumba, a board member of the South Africa Sommeliers’ Association and brand ambassador for the South African Brandy Foundation.
TASTING NOTES: 2023 STANDARD BANK CHENIN BLANC TOP TEN CHALLENGE
- Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2022: A leesy, savory introduction with quince, baked yellow apple, and salted lime aromas. Well-executed in a richer, older-era style with fresh acidity and a savory, saline finish.
- Antonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Riebeeksrivier Chenin Blanc 2021: Pure, crisp, and flinty style with greengage, melon, apple, and lime notes. Delicate, appetizing, and nuanced with subtle vanilla and buttery complexity.
- Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Garden Chenin Blanc 2022: Mineral and stony high notes over fresh lime and apple. Energetic, with juicy fruit, reductive elements, and lovely elegance.
- Flagstone Paradigm Chenin Blanc Reserve 2020: Rich yellow stone fruit with quince, peach, pear, and citrus blossoms. Mineral interest, leesy influence, and a well-rounded, fresh mouthfeel.
- KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2021: Wet wool, bath salts, lemon, lime, apricot, grapefruit, and peach stone. Fresh, youthful, and vibrant with integrated oaking and savory notes.
- Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022: Light, fresh, primary fruit-driven style with green apple, spring flowers, citrus, flint, and crushed rock. Zippy and mouthwatering with subtle oak.
- Stellenrust B28 (Fairtrade) Chenin Blanc 2022: Rich and opulent with peach, apricot, vanilla, and brioche aromas. Refreshing acidity balances the lemon cream confectionery flavors.
- Stellenrust Next Level Chenin Blanc 2022: Captivating expression with oily, oxidative, buttery aromas, ginger, baking spices, and dried apricot. Linear, toned, and exceptionally balanced.
- Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc 2021: Rich, spicy notes from fruit and oak, including ginger, tangerine, and roasted vanilla. Intense, ripe-fruited core with finesse.
- Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc 2022: Ripe peaches, fig, apple crumble, honeysuckle, and dried apricots. Bold, layered structure with smoky, umami, lingering finish.
