Kaapzicht Chenin Blanc, 2023
Kaapzicht Chenin Blanc, 2023
- 75cl
- 13%
- White Still
- Chenin Blanc
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2028
Kaapzicht’s Chenin Blanc comes from old bush vines in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, planted in weathered granite and clay. There’s even fruit from a vineyard planted in 1947, so there’s some serious history behind what is otherwise a very easy-going bottle.
The 2023 is ripe and juicy, with quince, pineapple and stone fruit, plus a savoury edge that stops it becoming too tropical. The palate is lightly textured, with a touch of sweetness balanced by plenty of crunchy acidity and a brisk, clean finish. No oak here – it’s all about the fruit, freshness and character of the Chenin.
This is a wine to drink now and over the next couple of years while the primary fruit is at full brightness. The citrus and melon will stay lively through 2028, after which the freshness may begin to soften and the wine could start to feel a little flat. Drink it young, drink it cold, and enjoy.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with a faint green rim, clear and bright in the glass.
NoseFresh and inviting, with lemon curd, honeyed melon, and a touch of white peach. There is a gentle waxy note underneath that signals Chenin rather than anything else.
PalateCrisp and medium-bodied, with citrus leading and the melon coming through on the mid-palate. The acidity keeps everything lively and the texture has just enough weight to feel satisfying without tipping into richness.
FinishClean and refreshing, with a lingering squeeze of lemon zest.
Overall impressionAn honest, well-made everyday Chenin that does exactly what it promises.
Food Pairings
At the Cape, this style of Chenin is the natural companion to snoek, the local smoked fish that appears at braais and market stalls from Hout Bay to Kalk Bay. It works equally well with a simple boboties-adjacent dish where the gentle spicing and egg-based richness need something bright to cut through. Locally caught grilled crayfish with lemon butter is another obvious match, and you will find this kind of wine poured freely alongside creamy waterblommetjiebredie, a traditional Cape stew made with water hawthorn flowers. For something more everyday, a bowl of good mussel soup with crusty bread is perfect.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well chilled, around 8-10°C, straight from the fridge with perhaps ten minutes on the counter if it has been very cold. No need to decant. A standard white wine glass with a moderate bowl will do the job well here, allowing the citrus aromas to gather without over-aerating a wine this light on its feet.
Kaapzicht's vineyards sit on the slopes of the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, where the soils are predominantly decomposed granite over clay. The elevation provides cooling breezes from False Bay, which extend the ripening season and help retain the natural acidity that makes Stellenbosch Chenin so lively. Warm days and cool nights are the rhythm here, and it shows in wines that carry both ripe fruit and a nervy, refreshing edge.
Stellenbosch is South Africa's most celebrated wine district, stretching from the Hottentots Holland mountains to the coast. It is best known for Cabernet-based reds, but its old-vine Chenin Blanc has become something of a calling card for the region's whites. The district encompasses diverse soil types and microclimates across its many sub-valleys, giving producers a wide palette to work with. Compared to the Swartland, Stellenbosch Chenin tends to be a touch more polished and fruit-forward, with the mountain influence keeping acidity sharp.
The 2023 growing season in Stellenbosch was shaped by a relatively cool, dry summer, which gave growers the kind of measured ripening that makes viticulturalists quietly optimistic. Rainfall was well-distributed early in the season, building good vine reserves without encouraging disease pressure, and the harvest came in at a sensible pace rather than a panic. The result was fruit with genuine freshness alongside ripe tannins — the sort of balance that doesn't happen by accident.
Across the board, 2023 produced wines with real definition. Cabernet Sauvignon and the Bordeaux blends that Stellenbosch does so well have come out with firm but finely grained structure and the kind of concentrated dark fruit that rewards patience. Chenin Blanc and Syrah also performed strongly, with Syrah in particular showing the peppery, muscular character the cooler sites here do better than almost anywhere else. Most reds will drink well from now but have the architecture to develop further — we'd give the serious Cabernet-based wines until at least 2028 to 2032 before calling them truly ready.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Bright and refreshing, with citrus and honeyed melon up front and a clean, crisp finish. There is a gentle waxy note that is classic Chenin Blanc, and the acidity keeps everything lively rather than soft.
When should I drink this wine?
Now is the right time. The 2023 vintage is already drinking well and will stay at its best until around 2028. This is not a wine for the long haul, so there is no benefit to waiting.
What food works well with this wine?
It is very flexible at the table. Seafood is the obvious match, whether that is grilled fish, mussels, or prawns with lemon butter. It also holds its own alongside creamy pasta, soft goats cheese, or a simple chicken dish with herbs. The acidity does the heavy lifting when it comes to cutting through richer sauces.
How should I serve it?
Serve it well chilled, around 8-10°C. No need to decant. A standard white wine glass is all you need.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
No. This is an early-drinking Chenin made for freshness and everyday pleasure. Holding it beyond 2028 is unlikely to reward you, and the bright citrus character that makes it enjoyable will fade before anything more interesting takes its place.
Who makes Kaapzicht?
Kaapzicht is a family-owned estate on the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, run by the Steytler family. They have been farming here for decades and are known for producing wines that are honest, well-priced, and reliably good across their range. They hold Biodiversity and Wine Initiative Champion status for their conservation work on the property.
OUR GROWERS
Kaapzicht
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