Bellevue Reserve Chenin Blanc 2025 Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Between the everyday Estate wines and the rare Heritage bottlings sits Bellevue’s Reserve range, made from selected old vineyards and given more attention in the cellar. For Chenin Blanc, that means fruit from mature bush vines, the kind of low-yielding plantings that give South African Chenin its concentration and its growing international reputation.

Marked OVP for old-vine project, this Reserve Chenin is hand-harvested from bush vines and made to show power with precision. It carries more depth and grip than the fresh Estate version, yet stops short of the full barrel treatment given to the Heritage Chenin. The result is a serious, food-friendly white that still tastes vividly of its fruit.

The 2025 vintage was among the Cape’s most admired in recent memory, its long, cool ripening giving whites both concentration and lively acidity. Old Chenin bush vines were perfectly placed to make the most of it, delivering small, intense berries that translate into a wine with real drive and a taut, mineral backbone.

It opens with green apple, white peach and rock candy, lifted by talcum-powder florals and a savoury fynbos spice. The palate is intense and concentrated, with Granny Smith apple and grapefruit citrus driven by a chiselled, tangy acidity to a long, dry finish. Serve well chilled, but not ice cold, with roast chicken, pork or grilled crayfish. It will also reward a few years’ patience.

Greg Sherwood MW rated the 2025 a superb 96 points. If you love the taut, mineral style of top Loire Chenin such as Savennieres, or a structured, unoaked white with genuine grip, this hits the mark. It is proof that South African Chenin belongs among the world’s most exciting whites, and a smart buy at the price.