Camino Africana Chenin 2018

Chenin Blanc is a French grape, but there’s more Chenin Blanc planted in Africa than in France! In South Africa, Dutch explorers planted Chenin back in the 1600s and 1700s, and some of the vine material in the country stems from those old plantings. For a long time Chenin Blanc was called “Steen” in South Africa, before they figured out it was the same thing.

David Finlayson has been championing low-intervention wines for a long time, and this Chenin Blanc is a peak example of his work. This wine is made to express the pure varietal essence of the Chenin grape, and nothing else. There’s no oak or other distracting elements here; this is a pure, honest wine.

Texture is the most salient character of this wine. It’s mouth-filling, buttery, silky, and refreshing at the same time. Notes of fresh yellow apple and quince abound on the palate. Moreso, it’s an umami bomb. There’s a profound saline, savory note that makes this a great food wine.

Drink this with white fish and quiche and chicken and grilled veggies!