Chamonix Old Vine Steen 2021
| Producer | Chamonix |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Franschhoek, Western Cape |
| Wine Type | White Wine |
| Body / Style | Aromatic |
| Grape Blend | 100% Chenin Blanc |
| Bottle Size (ml) | 750 |
| % Abv | 13.5 |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Extra Info | Saline, citrus, mineral Chenin |
| Food Pairing Guide | This structured, mineral old-vine Chenin Blanc is a superb partner for seafood. It’s wonderful with oysters, grilled langoustines, seared scallops, or line fish such as sea bass or hake with lemon butter. Its texture and citrus freshness suit crab, lobster and a creamy seafood risotto. It also handles gentle spice well, so try it with Thai green curry, Vietnamese prawn salad or a mild, fragrant Cape Malay fish curry. Roast chicken with lemon and herbs, pork with apple, or veal in a light cream sauce are lovely meat matches. Vegetarians could try asparagus with hollandaise, a leek and goat’s cheese tart or a fennel and citrus salad. It’s also excellent with mild, soft cheeses and young goat’s cheese. Serve lightly chilled rather than ice-cold so its complexity can show. |
Chamonix Old Vine Steen revives a forgotten treasure. Chamonix built its name on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but for decades one small, old block of Chenin Blanc (traditionally known in South Africa as Steen) quietly survived on the estate’s mountain slopes. After joining South Africa’s Old Vine Project, winemaker Neil Bruwer and CEO Stefan van Rooyen decided to give this precious vineyard its own bottling. Grown without irrigation in sandstone-derived soils and tended with great care, the vines yield small quantities of concentrated fruit full of character. The wine has quickly become one of the estate’s most admired, earning 95 points from Decanter.
In the glass it is a bright lemon-green, with an exquisite nose of stone fruit and a tangy, saline lift. The palate is well structured, complex and mineral, with vibrant citrus flavours, while time on the lees adds texture and depth. It has the palate weight, presence and length you’d expect from a vineyard of such age, balanced by fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. It’s a special wine for seafood and lighter dishes, and it will reward a few more years in the cellar.
