Protea Chenin Blanc 2019

Reviewed on March 27, 2020

The Protea Chenin Blanc 2019 smells like "spring in a bottle”! It has pretty aromas of apple blossoms, pear and lemon peel. It is dry with excellent concentration of fruit flavours - apricot, nectarine and white grapefruit. Chenin Blanc is such a versatile grape. It can make many different styles of wines from still to sparkling, and dry to sweet.

You can't help but notice the decorative bottle. Anthonij Rupert winery wants people to upcycle the bottle. No soaking is required to remove the labels, they peel off fairly easily. It has a helix cork which is a new type of enclosure that is a cross between a cork and a screw cap. The bottle can be cleaned and re-used for juice, olive oil, vinegar, even non-edibles like bubble bath. The design changes for each vintage and for the different grape varieties.

The Protea Chenin Blanc makes a nice sipper on a sunny patio. If you like Pinot Grigio, you are going to love it. I suggest pairing it with seafood, poultry, antipasti and charcuterie.  It’s also a great pick for Easter. I think it will pair particularly well with ham.

Region - Swartland, South Africa