Cape Grace (South Africa) Sauvignon Blanc / Chenin Blanc 2003
Having featured the lovely Diemersfontein Pinotage just the other week, it’s nice to have a cheap but really very good quality South African white partner in the shape of this blend of Chenin Blanc, South Africa’s most ubiquitous white wine grape, and Sauvignon Blanc, potentially their best white wine grape. The colour is pale, but vivid green. There’s an interesting creamy note of custard powder on the nose at first, then a bursting fruit impression of crunchy green apples and a more tropical, melon and peachy fruit. On the palate it is quite rich and full-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and a weight of ripe fruits. A punch of quite fat and oily, but cleansing lemon fruit and acidity cuts through the finish, with a just a hint of Sauvignon’s herbal character. This is very easy drinking and just off-dry, and the back-label suggestion to match with a mild Thai curry seems like a good one. £3.99 Waitrose.
