Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2022 Damascene

Professional reviews

James Suckling (93)

Hints of gunflint and crushed hazelnuts to go with golden apples, mango stones and cedar, with grapefruit and lemon peel notes, too. It’s compact, creamy and intense, full-bodied, with delicious spice and nut complexity. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson (16)

From three sites, the earliest planted in 1972. Whole-cluster-pressed and aged in oval Austrian foudres (1,000 litres) for 11 months.
A subdued nose, but hints of what is to come in ripe and rich apricots and apples. A slight oaky note surrounding it. Similar on the palate in its quietness of flavour. Still, generously textured and with tremendous freshness, and some salinity on the finish. There are clearly depths here – and serious structure, great balance – but it's quite closed, for the moment at least.

Vinous (94)

The 2022 Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch comes from vines on Greywacke, shale and granite soils planted between 1972 and 1981, whole cluster pressed and aged in oval Austrian foudres. This has a little more presence on the nose and is more outgoing with yellow plum, nectarine, peach skin and hints of red fruit. There is real complexity, becoming ever more minerally with aeration. The palate is very well-balanced with a little more viscosity and lees expression, lightly spiced with a vivacious saline finish. There is a sense of completeness here. Superb.

BOW (8.25)

Tim Atkin (94)