2018 Huilkrans Chenin Blanc
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Tasting notes
Pale lemon in hue, the 2018 Hulikrans explodes from the glass in waves of expression, offering seductive aromas of lemon-almond tart, raw honeycomb, white spiced tea, yellow apple skin and elements of Meyer lemon and sea spray. Medium-bodied, the wine splashes down on the palate with an amazing mouthfeel, mineral tension and energetic acidity with a growing spiciness across the mid-palate. The wine is impeccably balanced, showing the incredible depth and versatility that Chenin Blanc possesses, bursting with layers of soft, nutty and funky tones, bright, energetic acidity and stretched mineral essence. The wine grows spicier on the finish and continues to evolve for more than a minute, flipping back and forth between flavors of sautéed nuts, citrus zest and hints of dried caramel. There is no choice; I must finish this glass. I highly recommended it to every Chenin Blanc lover out there. Bravo!
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Huilkrans is 100% Chenin Blanc from the Citrusdal Mountains. Its bouquet is more waxy and resinous than Alheit’s other 2018s, but no less compelling. Discreet scents of granite and shale emerge with continued aeration. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, crisp and poised, with a lick of salinity toward the finish, and mango and dried pineapple toward the persistent, pixelated finish. This is another killer wine from Chris Alheit.
Chenin planted 1974–84 at 450 m. More spicy than the Nautical Dawn. Somehow both smoky and dusty/chalky in its mineral character but there’s a creamy note too – very complex already. So juicy and generous on the palate, gushing with citrus fruit on the palate after the spicy nose. The acid is quite strident at the moment and needs time to mesh. Bright citrus intensity. (JH)