Opstal, WO Slanghoek (Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa) Carl Everson Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2021 ($27, Baobab Wines)

The Breedkloof District of South Africa is located east of Paarl, over the Drakenstein Mountains. The Slanghoek Ward of Breedkloof lies in a cool and sheltered spot where the Opstal Estate has been growing grapes since 1847. In 1950, owner Carl Everson decided to make his own wine rather than sell his grapes to the co-op, and this Chenin Blanc cuvée is named in his honor. The 2021 vintage of Carl Everson Chenin Blanc is a rich, layered and complex white that offers lots of depth. The vineyard source is a site planted in 1982 and the mature vines yield excellent fruit. The 2021 Carl Everson Chenin shows scents of lemon, pear, ripe apple, tropical fruit and flowers. Layers of luscious pear, apple, peach, and tropical fruits unfold across the palate, underlain by hints of cream and herbs. The deft use of oak gives a rich and creamy texture and enhances the high quality of the fruit.
91 Wayne Belding