1 | Wine | White, South Africa, 86 or higher

"Pale straw-yellow. Grapefruit, melon, lemon and papaya aromas lifted by a minty nuance. Bright, savory and laid-back, with racy acidity giving excellent cut to the fruit, honeysuckle and subtle mineral flavors. A lovely hint of semillon richness blends nicely with the vibrant sauvignon. This could use a year of patience. Incidentally, this winery is called Shannon Vineyards in South Africa."

"Ripe but well-focused, with straw, white peach, kiwifruit pulp and pink grapefruit notes all wound together and extending through the well-defined finish. Very solid, this should mellow with modest cellaring."

"A superb wine at a superb price. It has a bright nose of pear, bruised apple and apricot with a prudent use of oak allowing the nose to achieve fine delineation and clarity. The palate is well-defined with a crisp, honeycomb tinged entry, a little spice and orange rind, leading to a finish with great weight and personality. This is a winery that lives up to its name!"

"The FMC has a beautifully defined, intoxicating bouquet with lemon curd, frangipane, almond and just a touch of nutmeg. The palate has a rounded, waxy texture with wonderful harmony and precision. There are subtle flavours of dried apricot, brioche, vanilla, a touch of honey (perhaps a little botrytis) and a hint of spice. Seductive, harmonious and very focussed, The FMC is a sublime expression of South African Chenin Blanc."

"A plump, full-bodied style, with a toasted brioche edge to the creamed pear, fig and apple notes. There's creamy mouthfeel and ample length, with a lingering note of hazelnut for a flashy hint."

"The nose is beautifully defined with scents of melon, honeysuckle and white peach with just a hint of creme patissiere. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry with subtle almond and hazelnut. It has wonderfully integrated vanilla-tinged oak and a tense, mineral-rich finish that is Corton-Charlemagne in all but name and price. This is one of South Africa’s benchmark Chardonnays."

"Fresh and pure, with mouthwatering lime, peach and green melon flavors. There's a chamomile twinge on the unadorned finish."

"This shows alluring butter and creamed pear aromas and flavors, but stays racy, with honeysuckle, quinine and green fig notes rippling throughout, followed by a very stylish finish. Impressive and distinctive. Should age nicely."

"A crackling version is filled with notes of thyme, chive and fleur de sel, ending with an extra gooseberry kick on the finish."