Bottle of the week: Good value for a quick hit-and-run

22 July 2015 - 02:01 By Neil Pendock

Wine of the week: Stellenrust Chardonnay 2014 HOW MUCH? R59.50 (Cybercellar)WHERE? The farm doubles as a famous wedding venue opposite Stellenbosch airfield; www.stellenrust.co.za; 021-880-2283WHY? Stellenbosch producer Stellenrust burst onto the international scene at the London Olympics back in 2012 when some chav chucked an (empty) recyclable PET bottle of Fairtrade Stellenrust Chenin Blanc onto the track of the 100m sprint final. Usain Bolt bottled by an SA Chenin Blanc would have been up there with Zola Budd tripping Mary Decker in the annals of Olympic disasters.Chenin is not the only white made by former dentist Tertius Boshoff and his current release Chardonnays are whipping up a storm in the local spittoon. There are two: a lightly wooded 2014 and a more serious barrel-fermented 2013 for twice the price. Coded-named "wild yeast" it is a walk on the wild side straight out of Lou Reed. And the coloured girls go "Doo do doo do doo do do doo" indeed. At our weekly RECM Best Value blind tastings, Wild Yeast was highest scorer in March while the lightly wooded 2014 was a best-value selection in April. Flavour profiles feature orange and almonds and it's a great match with roast chicken and yellowtail. A great white hope for those who find Sauvignon Blanc too acidic, Chardonnay is a sophisticated alternative and it even gets better with age. These ones are Fairtrade approved which means the workers who make the stuff get their fair shake, too...

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