Here's the thing about South African Chenin Blanc: the best examples cost a small fortune, and then there's this one. Peacock Wild Ferment punches so far above its price that you'll want to keep the discovery to yourself.
The grapes come from old bushvine vineyards on the Helderberg, on the coastal edge of Stellenbosch, where vines of twenty to fifty years have long since found their natural balance. You can taste it. Ripe citrus and guava on the nose, a whisper of wild thyme, then a palate that's fresh and lifted, with gently honeyed fruit held in check by taut, mouth-watering acidity. The finish is crisp, vibrant and properly savoury.
This is real winemaking, not a recipe. Hand-harvested fruit, whole-bunch pressed for only the finest juice, then a spontaneous wild-yeast fermentation in old 600-litre barrels and concrete eggs, followed by a good stretch on lees for texture and depth. Nothing added but a touch of sulphur. It's also a vegan-friendly wine.
Wonderfully versatile at the table: pour it with creamy chicken, slow-cooked pork belly, or a proper spaghetti carbonara. It makes a thoughtful gift for any Cape wine lover, and we ship it to your door anywhere in the UK, usually within a few days.
