Stark-Conde Monk Stone Chenin Blanc 2021 (750ml)
Product price
Description
Stark-Conde's 2021 Monk Stone Chenin Blanc comes from South Africa's Coastal Region, where bush vines grow on granite terraces at 300 meters elevation. The fruit was hand-harvested, partially whole-bunch pressed, then aged eight months in a mix of clay amphorae and French oak barrels, yielding a small production of just 1,550 bottles.
The wine opens with mineral-driven aromatics, crushed granite and dusty gravel mingling with white citrus, lemon oil, and tangerine peel. On the palate, it's bright and crisp, medium-bodied with excellent mineral tension and a fresh, lively mouthfeel. Lemony notes build toward hints of white pepper and gentle spice, finishing with lingering acidity that begs for fresh shellfish or sharp cheese. This is a focused, minerally expression of Chenin Blanc that shows real intensity and purity, and it's ready to enjoy now, though another year in bottle would deepen its character further.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | White |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Coastal Region |
| Varietal | Chenin Blanc |
| Producer | Stark-Conde Wines |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Monk Stone vineyard sits at 300m on granite soil terraces planted with bush vines. Grapes were hand harvested before being destemmed and crushed, with a small portion wholebunch pressed. The wine was aged in a combination of clay amphorae and French oak barrels for eight months with occasional batonnage. The production is small, with only 1,550 bottles produced. Greg Sherwood MW: Beautiful aromatics of crushed granite, dusty gravel, white citrus, lemon oil and tangerine peel. Supreme power, balance, intensity and purity. Really profound expression. Beverley Blanning MW: Toasty nose leads into a crisp, bright lemony palate, with notes of tangerine and grapefruit. Firm, acid-driven wine. with good intensity. Roger Jones: Fresh and focused, gentle spices, delicate floral notes. Fine, white nutty, flinty notes, fragrant, lemon drizzle cake. Hint of yuzu, granite, spice, tangerine essence. Wow.
Bursting from the glass with a mineral backbone and bright lemony essence, the 2021 Monk Stone Chenin Blanc offers notions of wax melon with citrus blossom essence on the nose. Medium-bodied, this has excellent mineral tension with a fresh and crisp mouthfeel that is immensely pleasing before ending with a lingering, spicy finish that has me daydreaming of fresh shellfish and cheeses. Bravo!