Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge winners announced

"Finally, South Africa's iconic white wines are getting the recognition they deserve and this top 10 is just a snapshot of the greatness that awaits wine drinkers," said winemaker Ken Forrester, chairman of the Chenin Blanc Association. "Behind these 10 great wines are another 10 and behind them another 10; Chenin Blanc is an exciting journey and a grape whose time has come."

The Top 10 wines are listed below, followed by the cellar-door price and an extract from the panel's tasting report:

• Bellingham The Old Orchard's 2013 (R95) - "Rich and ripe"
  
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2013 (R141) - "Very stylish"
  
• KWV The Mentors 2012 (R160) - "Concentrated and pure"
  
• Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented 2013 (R73) "A powerful but well balanced wine"
  
• Remhoogte Honeybunch Reserve 2013 (R150) - "A good line of acidity ensures balance"
  
• Rijk's Cellars Private Cellar 2009 (R130) - "A blockbuster"
  
• Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2010 (R110) - "Really well executed"
  
• Spier Woolworths Private Collection 2013 (Woolworths price: R109.95) - "Totally seductive"
  
• Stellenrust 2014 (R44) - "Really flavourful"
  
• Villiera Traditional Barrel Fermented 2014 (R94.50) - "Shows real finesse and balance"

"There's general consensus that Chenin Blanc is a 'first division' grape," said judging panel chairman Christian Eedes. Pointing out the disproportionately large number of old vines compared to other varieties, he added: "The potential is obvious."

"Variations in soil, aspect and micro-climate across often very short distances, coupled with increasingly confident and imaginative winemaking, mean that Chenin Blanc will always manifest a plethora of styles, drinking well from bargain basement to top-end," said Eedes.