Kanu, Chenin Blanc 2008 $10

South Africa

I’m beginning to find more Chenin Blanc wines from South Africa which are quite nice. They’re obviously young and ready to drink now so don’t hesitate to open a bottle today. Throw out the old adage that whites are for summer only and try something like this in place of a cocktail before dinner or even with seafood. Hey, Oysters & Stone Crabs are in season now that waters are colder in my area and this would go great with those.

With a light citrus and asparagus aroma, this reminded me of a Sauvignon Blanc. The flavors displayed melon, peach and a hint of citrus. A mild nutty taste on the finish mellowed out the typical tartness found in a Sav. Blanc. Since a portion of the wine was aged in oak barrels, this could explain the subtleness of the wine. Overall, I found this wine very refreshing, slightly crisp yet not too tart.

If I was to pair this wine, I’d go with a grilled fish like I had at the time of tasting (Mahi Mahi). This wine would also go well with light pasta dishes or salads. If you don’t want to worry about food pairing, try it as discussed above and just enjoy by itself. With an 87 rating from Wine Spectator and costing less than $10, you can’t go wrong to try it.

The blend: 92% Chenin Blanc, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Viognier
**5% late harvest Chenin Blanc was blended in.

Full disclosure: This bottle was sent to me for sampling. If you know my motto at Simple Wine Talk, you know I won’t write about it unless I liked it!