Cost: $15.95
Grape: 57% Chenin Blanc, 25% Viognier, 18% Roussanne
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: South Africa
Region: Cape Coast
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Essay
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Very interesting wine, in a good way, complexity shows waves of different notes. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Medium straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Guava, papaya, pineapple, litchee, honeydew melon, dragon fruit & lemon.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Essay is a play on words: “SA” is the popular way of saying “South Africa” in SA. It also implies an “assemblage” or blending of ingredients to create a whole greater than its parts.

Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were hand harvested and cold fermented in stainless steel tanks. The Chenin Blanc is only free-run juice. A few months of lees contact enhances texture. The unwooded wine was fined and filtered before bottling.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Asian chicken skewers with green papaya salad.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: July 25, 2024

LCBO: 414144