The Curator Reserve Chenin Blanc 2025

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

"Pear and sweet pineapple define the nose of this easygoing Chenin Blanc. The lightweight palate features pear and stone fruit with touches of lime, supported by good acidity.” - 90 PTS., WINE ENTHUSIAST (2024 Vintage)

IMPORTER NOTES:

OVERVIEW: "Sourced from Swartland -- South Africa’s oldest and largest wine region -- the wine showcases fruit from dry-farmed bush vines, many over 100 years old. These ancient, low-yielding vineyards produce intensely concentrated grapes that would otherwise be blended into commercial wines. By working directly with local farmers, we were able to preserve this heritage fruit and craft a wine of remarkable character. The name ‘The Curator’ was coined by Gregg Perkins, inspired by Bartholomew Broadbent’s reputation for curating outstanding wines from around the world. The inaugural 2011 vintage was a standout success, quickly gaining recognition as one of the best value wines on the market and expanding into markets like the UK, Norway, and Quebec. Our South African winemaker has led production from the start, with Bartholomew Broadbent overseeing the final blend each year."

VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING: "This reserve Chenin Blanc draws on fruit from vineyards aged 13 to 31 years, rooted in granite and shale soils at 160m elevation. North-facing slopes and an East-West row orientation capture just the right balance of sunlight in this Mediterranean climate. The 2025 vintage followed an unusually long, wet winter, succeeded by a dry, extended ripening period – yielding textbook fruit with ideal acidity, sugar, and pH. Harvested from late January to mid-February, grapes were handpicked and whole-bunch pressed to preserve natural freshness. Select parcels were native yeast fermented in large-format 5,000L French oak foudres (10th fill), while others fermented in stainless steel and concrete. After five months of lees aging, the components were blended and rested further on fine lees in stainless steel to enhance depth and texture. A layered, textural expression of Chenin – vibrant yet refined."