Waitrose Foundation Chenin Blanc 2014

From - Cederberg, SA
Grape - Chenin Blanc
Alcohol - 12.5%
Available from - Waitrose
Price - £8.99

Appearance - Clear, medium intensity, lemon-green

Nose - Clean, medium+ intensity, citrus, and apple.

Palate - Dry, medium alcohol, high acid, medium+ body, medium+ length. Medium+ intensity   Lime, stone fruit, apples, a touch of stone minerality and even a touch of petillance.

Oz Clarke reckons that, when the 'true' price of a wine can sometimes be in doubt, supermarkets' own label wines can often prove to be good value.  I found this wine to be really good, plenty of fruit and very refreshing.  I had it to accompany a tomato salad, which worked really well.  It also provides a good deal for the farmers.

Chateau de Fesles Chenin Sec 2011

From - Loire, France
Grape - Chenin Blanc
Alcohol - 13.5%
Price - £13.99
Available - waitrosecellar.com; Ocado

Appearance - Clear, medium intensity, golden

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; developing; floral, pear, honey

Palate - Dry; medium+ acidity; medium+ alcohol; medium+ body; medium intensity; pears, limes, smoke, savoury spice.

Balance - 7.5 Length - 7  Intensity -7  Complexity - 7

An acidic white with silky mouth-feel, and a good length.  This would be a good aperitif and worked well with the Thai curry we had.  Pleasant enough, although I am not sure it'd be one I'll be looking out for, in the future.  High acid should make it last well and I think that it would improve with age.

Morgenhof Estate Chenin Blanc 2012

From - Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape - Chenin Blanc
Alcohol - 13.5%
Available from - Waitrose
Price - £11.99

Appearance - Clear; golden; medium+ intensity

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; lime, apple, peach, green pepper.

Palate - Dry; medium+ acid; medium+ alcohol; medium intensity; full body; medium+ length; apple, lemon&lime, a touch of smoke, stone fruit.

Balance - 6 Length - 8 Intensity - 6 Complexity - 7

This is terrific value.  It has a really creamy, almost chewy body, probably due to the fact that it has had some time maturing in oak - even so, it is surprisingly, and pleasantly, full bodied.  The bottle claims ageing potential and I agree, I can see the alcohol flavour mellowing and the complex flavours from the time in oak coming to the fore. I am inclined to buy another one and give it a couple of years in my wine rack, as I am confident that patience will pay off.

Don't drink it really, really cold because you will lose some of the subtle flavours.

Chenin Blanc, as a grape, produces high acid wines in hot climes, which is unusual.