M – A – N Family Wines, Cape Coast (South Africa) Chenin Blanc 2022

 This wine has been quite good for a long while, and in terms of value, downright excellent for years on end—more than a decade.  But during the past four or five vintages, the quality seems to have risen notably while the price has held constant, so we’re really onto something with this in a period of inflation.  It is nationally distributed by Vineyard Brands, so almost everyone has a fighting chance to locate it without needing to ship it, and though you might need to pay a few bucks more if you live in a relatively less competitive market, $12 or $13 or $14 is still a bargain for a wine that out-performs ones costing more than $20.  I bought a couple of bottles from an ultra-expensive grocery store in Tacoma, Washington for $9, which is a phenomenally good deal.  It offers inviting scents of freshly sliced ripe peaches and wild honey are quite alluring, and the flavors more than deliver on the wine’s aromatic promise.  Juicy and rich, but still vibrant, the palate impressions offer orchard fruit notes of ripe nectarines and apricots, with bright acidity energizing the flavors and focusing the wine’s finish.  This is really impressive from 2022, and amazingly so for the asking price.