Today’s Deal ~ 2016 Terre Brulêe Chenin Blanc (South Africa)
$23.95/btl or $17.95/btl on 6+
93 POINTS & TOP 100 WINES of 2017 “WINE & SPIRITS”
We have always been huge fans of South African wines and last year sold more De Morgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc than anyone else in California. How’d we do it? Welp…it easy when you purchase all 28 cases imported/available for the entire state of California! We quickly sold through our entire allotment and have since been on the hunt for another SA Chenin, but, something at a more affordable price point too!
Last week, while chit-chatting with one of our distributors we asked if they had anything new and exciting on the market? He informed me that his colleague “Jemo” had come across a New Zealand Chenin Blanc that “Jemo” proclaimed to be one of the best wines he’s tried all year. Instantly, I was intrigued and said, “LET’S TRY IT ASAP!” THE next day, the bottle was brought to CV; and we swirled, and we sniffed, and we tasted, and had a really, really, really good time (some of you will get that song parody)! JEMO was right, the wine was stunning, with the depth, opulence and structure of a $40-$50 bottle, but less than 1/2 the price!
The only question now was…how much is it and how much can we get? Today we have 20 cases of the 2016 Terre Brulêe Chenin Blanc which retails for $23.95/bottle or $17.95/bottle on 6+!!!
WINE & SPIRITS REVIEW:
93 POINTS – Vincent Carême has earned a place on our Top 100 Wineries of the Year for the last two years, based on the wines he makes at his family’s estate in Vouvray. His wife is from South Africa, and together they started this project in Swartland, working with 40-year-old dry-farmed bush vines growing on decomposed granite. He ferments the wine without added yeasts and ages it in a combination of stainless steel and 500-liter French oak barrels (half of them new). This is an exciting wine, not only for the freshness of its chenin expression—bathed in scents of chamomile flowers, tart orange, lemongrass and herbs—but also for its price, which is astonishing considering how much depth of flavor the wine has on offer. Grape-skin tannins add to the richness of the texture, while brisk acidity keeps it tight, focusing its juicy flavors to match fresh goat cheese.
CV HAS A FEW WORDS ABOUT CB…
It’s hard not to love Chenin Blanc. It is versatile in style and sweetness and can adapt to a wide variety of tastes. The largest producing region of Chenin Blanc is South Africa, followed by Argentina and France. Some want to group Chenin Blanc in the same family as Sauvignon Blanc, but its depth/structure will have most palates thinking it is a Chardonnay! This is the perfect wine for the seasonal shift on the horizon. IMPORTANT be sure to not over-chill when serving. Take the edge off, but don’t make it too cold or it won’t truly unmask its full-flavor potential.
About Terre Brulêe
Terre Brulee is owned and operated by Tania & Vincent Careme. Vincent, a native Frenchman, also has owned his own winery in Vouvray, France, since 1999. “He produces his South African wine using the same methods with the same care and precision as his French wines: whole bunch pressing, only natural yeast for fermentation and an approach with minimal intervention in the cellar. Vincent firmly believes that the quality of wine is determined in the vineyard and consequently is meticulous about his vines. He visits twice a year—for harvest in February and for bottling in November, renting cellar space. Between harvest in February and bottling in November the wine is tasted and assessed regularly thanks to Tania’s family and friends who carry samples to France when they visit from South Africa.” (Cape Classics Online). That’s pretty cool!
Cheers,
THE CV CREW