L’Avenir Single Block Chenin Blanc Platter’s 5 star rating confirms its class
The L’Avenir Single Block Chenin Blanc 2020 was awarded a Five Star rating in the 2022 Platter’s South African Wine Guide. This follows a 96 point score in Decanter Magazine for the 2019 vintage, upholding the standard of this remarkable old vine Chenin Blanc.
L’Avenir’s Single Block Chenin Blanc is produced from a vineyard planted in 1971, which is certified as a Heritage Vineyard through South Africa’s Old Vine Project. “Over the years I’ve learnt that when it comes to this grande dame, minimum intervention is best. Natural fermentation, older barrels with blond toasting and a hands-off approach in the vineyard resulted in our team winning an award that has evaded L’Avenir over the decades,” explains L’Avenir winemaker, Dirk Coetzee.
Platter’s is regarded as South Africa’s most authoritative wine guide and a Five Star rating is the highest that can be achieved. The 2022 edition describes the Single Block Chenin 2020 as a “veritable feast of flavour”, with Platter’s taster Cathy Marston’s tasting notes revealing “lemon, peach, apricot, hints of honey & rosemary – ably supported by spicy oak. Almond notes show delightful development, set to continue with lengthy lime finish.”
According to Coetzee, the Single Block Chenin Blanc is distinguished by floral fragrance and mouth feel. “It’s a refined wine that has evolved with the South African Chenin Blanc renaissance. Even the trellising of the vineyard reflects Stellenbosch heritage: it was clearly planted as a bushvine or goblet vineyard, which was then trellised in the early 1990s to achieve higher yields when South Africa’s borders opened for exports. Today, it’s managed as an open sprawl bushvine, with the balance of age significantly impacting both the viticulture and style of the wine.”
Through a collaborative project between the Old Vine Project and Interloire, the genetic material of L’Avenir’s Single Block Chenin Blanc vineyard was isolated in 2020 and will be propagated for commercial use in 2025.
The Single Block Chenin Blanc 2020 comprises a selection of the finest barrels from this single vineyard. The bottles are individually numbered and available on allocation only. About L’Avenir Wine Estate L’Avenir is a leading Stellenbosch boutique winery that specialises in South Africa’s emblematic varietals: Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. Situated four kilometres from Stellenbosch on the lower slopes of Simonsberg Mountain, the Estate is right in the heart of South Africa’s most revered wine region.
About L’Avenir Wine Estate
L’Avenir is a leading Stellenbosch boutique winery that specialises in South Africa’s emblematic varietals: Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. Situated four kilometres from Stellenbosch on the lower slopes of Simonsberg Mountain, the Estate is right in the heart of South Africa’s most revered wine region.
For more information contact Dr Edo Heyns – Advini South Africa Strategic Development Director: Edo.heyns@advinisa.co.za
