VIBRANT, VIVACIOUS AND GRACIOUS – THERE’S ALWAYS A PLACE FOR CHENIN BLANC
By now you will know that we are expert makers of Chenin Blanc in all its iterations. But let’s have a look at just what we are producing with this versatile grape.
The Bosmans’ love affair with Chenin Blanc
“Chenin Blanc is über drinkable, unmatched in its food-friendliness and it can be made to be happy every day drinking wines, to expressive and special wines. I’m totally smitten with Chenin.”
– Corlea Fourie, Bosman winemaker
With enthusiasm like this, no wonder half of the entire Bosman wine farm is planted to Chenin Blanc. This cultivar thrives in the warm, dry climate of Wellington, particularly in the decomposed granite soils of the Bovlei along the foothills of the Groenberg mountain where the original Bosman farm is situated. With all these grapes to choose from, the Bosman Family Vineyards cellar team makes three Chenin Blanc wines … and then some.
Is Chenin Blanc good for beginners?
The answer is a resounding YES! Our Generation 8 Chenin Blanc is perfect for first-time wine drinkers and should be stocked in every fridge ready for an impromptu braai or weeknight catch-up.
The Generation 8 Chenin Blanc is an ‘any time’ wine, an absolute crowd-pleaser and one to be enjoyed regularly. Two components of this Chenin Blanc are worth noting: firstly, a small component was made by drying the grapes on wooden racks in the sun for a week before pressing and fermenting. This component does add a small amount of residual sugar to the wine, but it primarily adds to the generosity of flavour. The second notable component is that of skin contact, which adds texture and structure to the wine.
This wine has a complex fruit-driven, multi-layered nose with primary aromas of white peach and secondary aromas of stewed apple and pleasing traces of jasmine following through to a beautiful, textured palate with a crisp, clean, but lingering finish. This multi-faceted wine will complement an array of dishes from creamy marinara pasta to salad niçoise, grilled fish and lemon-roasted chicken. You should always have a bottle or two in your fridge to open when guests pop over unexpectedly.
What is the best Chenin in South Africa?
Our Old Vine, Single Vineyard Optenhorst Chenin is a legend. This ‘grande dame’ has been raking in jaw-dropping scores and gleaming accolades both locally and internationally for almost two decades now, and it is only getting better.
We’ve walked a long and lovely road with our single vineyard Optenhorst Chenin Blanc widely regarded as one of the best Chenins in South Africa.
In 2007 we saved it from being uprooted, just to give this ancient vineyard a chance to express itself on its own, and we were astounded at the wine’s depth of character and complexity of flavour. Ever since, year after year, we’ve sensitively tweaked our winemaking technique to bring out the very best of this gracious ‘grande dame’ vineyard planted in 1952.
The Optenhorst Chenin Blanc has won prizes galore vintage after vintage, one being for the 2013 Optenhorst which, at the Investec Trophy Wine Show in 2023, was awarded the trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc, showing the wine’s excellent ageing potential.
The 2019 Optenhorst Chenin Blanc won two awards at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show: the Harold Eedes Trophy for the Best Chenin Blanc on show; and the inaugural Rose Kruger Trophy for the Best Old Vine Wine, but the vintage also won a Gold Medal at the Global Wine Challenge and scored an impressive 94 points in the Tim Atkin Report.
But wait, there’s even more: The current 2022 vintage was awarded five stars in the Platter Guide while the soon to be released 2023 was given a rating of 95 points in the Tim Atkin Report.
As the third oldest Chenin vineyard in the country and a certified Old Vine (OVP) wine, we endeavour to let the wine express its unique heritage which involves natural fermentation, as well as maturation in older barrels for a short period for minimal wood impact but just enough to allow the gentle, multi-layered fruit to flourish.
The grapes originated from a single vineyard site called ‘Gesamelike Wei’ which translated means common pasture. As the vineyard is on the way up to the Bainskloof Pass, where herders and pioneers would have travelled over for centuries, it is interesting to think of the many hooves and feet that have trampled this ground, perhaps contributing to its excellent terroir.
The original farm where this vineyard is planted was first granted in 1699 and is called Optenhorst meaning ‘on the ridge’. So, its location catches the prevailing winds which naturally restrict the yield of these bush vines planted in weathered granite soils. The vineyard is farmed regeneratively to retain its authenticity.
To make this unique wine, the winemaker prepares a ‘pied de cuve’ to initiate natural fermentation. This ensures spontaneous fermentation of the grapes harvested a few days later. The natural yeasts enhance the unique flavours of the grapes from that site and sensitive vinification, with thoughtful but minimal intervention, allows for the best and truest expression of this unique Old Vine vineyard. The grapes were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, settled overnight and then the clear juice was drawn off in the morning. Spontaneous fermentation occurred in both a concrete egg and Louis Latour Burgundian oak barrels. The wine is allowed to mature in bottle for at least another year.
On the nose this Chenin Blanc exudes enticing aromas of ripe orchard fruit. Hints of toasted almonds, fresh ginger and a delicate vanilla presence are intensely rewarding.
The palate is beautifully balanced with a luscious mouthfeel that shows flavours of honeyed peaches and stewed apricots. The carefully considered oak maturation has resulted in a velvety creaminess offset by a lively salinity from the portion matured in the concrete egg.
A great match for this full-flavoured wine would be seared scallops, creamy chicken pasta with wild mushrooms, confit duck or creamy vegetables ‘en croute’. Crème brulée is a wild card option.
Judging by the success of the 2013 vintage, this wine should age well for 15 years if cellared correctly.
What is Chenin Blanc called in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc has a long history in South Africa, being amongst the first grape cultivars brought here by Jan van Riebeeck when he landed here in 1652, tasked with establishing a refreshment station for the European ships passing around Africa on their way east to trade in spices. In those days it was called Steendruif, which later became Steen but which is now called Chenin Blanc, acknowledging its French origin, probably in the region of Anjou and later in the Loire Valley.
And that’s where we got the name Seesteen, the latest addition to our Chenin Blanc line up. Sourced from vineyards in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde on our Bosman Hermanus farm, the vines are planted in decomposed granite rock and facing the sea, Seesteen was the obvious choice for the name of this beautifully restrained but complex wine that drips with lemon blossom and white peach. This being its maiden vintage, it has quickly made a name for itself, getting listed in the top 20 of the Standard Bank 2025 Chenin Blanc Challenge.
How to drink Chenin?
We have the perfect solution for you: a 3-pack offering of the above-mentioned wines including an easily accessible tasting guide. The idea is to get your Chenin-loving friends together, line up the bottles and then click on the QR code to listen to the story behind each wine. No need to do it all at once, each wine has its own code and story.
Shop your at-home tasting Chenin box now or gift this nifty tasting pack to a fellow Chenin lover.
But that’s not all!
Bosman also make other wines with this versatile grape.
Already well-known, the Bosman Adama White Blend is made predominantly from Chenin Blanc combined with Grenache, Vermentino and Viura, each component being aged in French oak for four months before being blended. The wine exhibits restrained aromas of perfumed white flower, apple and ginger with a flinty finish following through to generous flavours of stone fruit, a crisp acidity and a well-rounded mouthfeel. Tuna tartare, creamy carbonara or a fresh watermelon salad sprinkled with feta would be great partners.
We have another Old Vine vineyard, planted in 1980, Spogblok (meaning ‘Boast Block’) because of its generous quality, is the source of the grapes used for our MCC Loose Cannon. Typically, classic MCC’s are made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But being Chenin lovers, we made it into a bubbly.
The story behind the name bares retelling: We all know one: a loose cannon, a person who behaves in an uncontrolled or unexpected manner and refuses to be confined. Similarly, when a challenge in life is conquered, no cork should be too difficult to pop.
The base wine for this MCC was whole bunch pressed at a lower sugar level to enable a second bottle fermentation. This wine was barrel fermented and then left on the lees for 6 months, spending another 8 months in tank prior to bottling. Second fermentation commenced in the bottle and the wine matured a further 17 months before disgorgement.
This wine shows a fine balance between generosity and restraint. A tantalizing, fine mousse with aromas of Granny Smith apples, with fine notes of dried pear and honeyed brioche follow through to a vibrant palate exhibiting a mix of stone fruit flavours ending with a clean, integrated aftertaste.
So no shortage of Chenin Blancs from Bosman Wines. Visit our website www.bosmanwines.com for more information, or book a tasting at either the historic Bosman Wellington Cellar, or at the Frame House at Bosman Hermanus where you can enjoy a wine pairing menu, small plates and flatbreads, overlooking the pristine Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.