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The Rugby Field Vineyard Chenin Blanc

Volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2024

£20.50

Member Price: £16.40

RUGBYFIELD VINEYARD · BISMARCK & JANNIE DU PLESSIS · SPRINGBOK LEGENDS · STELLENBOSCH CHENIN BLANC

Created by Springbok brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, the RugbyField Vineyard project brings their love of rugby, farming and wine together across some of the world's great rugby-playing countries. The South African chapter sees the brothers partner with L’Avenir in Stellenbosch, producing a Chenin Blanc that combines old-vine fruit with both French-oak-matured and unwooded components. Crisp and elegant, it balances natural acidity with generous fruit and subtle spice, showing pineapple, white peach, apricot kernel, roasted almond and a touch of raw honey.

A beautifully fresh and layered Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc carrying the unmistakable RugbyField story from two Springbok legends.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Crisp pale straw yellow with beautiful clarity.
Nose: Precise and expressive, with white peach and melon, alongside subtle honey and toasted almond.
Palate: Medium-bodied and elegant, combining delicate tropical and stone fruit with crisp natural acidity. Pineapple, white peach and apricot kernel sit alongside gentle spice, roasted almond and a touch of raw honey. The oak component adds texture and complexity without dominating the fruit.
Finish: Fresh, clean and lingering, with citrus-like acidity, subtle spice and delicate honeyed almond character.

Perfect For

Suggested Dishes: Fresh, clean and lingering, with citrus-like acidity, subtle spice and delicate honeyed almond character.
Suggested Occasions: Summer lunches, dinner parties, aperitif, relaxed entertaining and food-led dinners.
Suggested Sporting Occasions: Six Nations, Rugby World Cup, British & Irish Lions, Springbok matches, club rugby and post-match lunches.

Details

Style: Dry, Medium-Bodied Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Appellation: Stellenbosch
Producer: L'Avenir
Vineyard: Old-vine Stellenbosch vineyards
Grape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Closure: Screw Cap
Drinking Window: 2025–2028
Serving Temp: 9–11°C
Decanting Advice: Not required. Give the wine 10–15 minutes in the glass to open if desired.
Cellaring Potential: 3–5 years; the natural acidity and oak-derived structure should allow it to develop additional honeyed and nutty complexity.
Oak/Cask Ageing: Approximately half of the blend matured in first- to fourth-fill French oak barrels for nine months; the other half was matured in stainless steel on fine lees with regular lees stirring.
Production Quantity: Limited Edition

“This is a really lovely Chenin — fresh and bright, but with enough texture and complexity to make it interesting. The peach, almond and little touch of honey work beautifully together. And, of course, the Bismarck and Jannie story makes it a brilliant bottle to have open when the rugby is on.” - Chris O