Babylonstoren’s Chenin Blanc is one of those wines that makes you stop and pay attention. South Africa has made Chenin Blanc its own, and this 2025 from the estate’s beautiful Franschhoek Valley vineyards is a superb example of why. What makes it particularly interesting is the winemaking: 10% of the blend is aged in Nomblot cement eggs and terracotta clay amphorae, vessels that allow a gentle micro-oxygenation without imparting any oak character, resulting in a wine of real texture and complexity while remaining light, crisp, and utterly refreshing. The nose is vibrant and tropical — guava, pineapple, and winter melon — with a lovely fresh edge of gooseberry and Packham pear that keeps everything lively. On the palate it’s dry and elegant, with a lovely natural freshness and a clean, lingering finish. A lithe, characterful summer white that is very hard not to love.