Name: Testalonga El Bandito Chenin Blanc Cortez 2023 750ml
Brand: Testalonga
SKU: 1026934
Price: 34.94 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 90 (1 reviews)

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Winery Testalonga

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Varietal Chenin Blanc

Originating in France yet now grown in many parts of the New World, Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile and highly regarded white wine grape varietals on earth. These green skinned grapes hold a relatively high acid content, and as such can be used for making still white wines of exceptional quality, as well as superb sparkling wines (such as the Crémant wines of the Loire Valley) and extremely aromatic dessert wines. Their natural transparency means that they are a fine grape for expressing their terroir in the bottle, and winemakers often experiment with this varietal to coax unusual and intense flavors from the grapes, such as allowing the development of noble rot on the fruit in order to make sweet and viscous wines of a unique character.

Country South Africa

Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.

Region Coastal Region

The coastal region of South Africa is one of the most prodigious and productive wine regions on earth, and one which covers a vast distance making up for most of the tip of the African continent. The history of South African wines is a fascinating and surprisingly long one, with the very first wines in the country being produced by settlers in the 1650s, long before many other New World countries had even been discovered. Today, coastal South African wines are wildly popular around the world thanks to their big, fruity flavors and relative simplicity. Wineries in the region make the most of the hot sunshine, the high quality soils, and the brisk oceanic winds which keep disease at bay and stop the grapes from getting too hot, and produce a wide variety of wines of great distinction.

Appellation Swartland

WA 90pts

Wine Advocate

The Testalonga 2023 Swartland El Bandito Cortez is Chenin Blanc with citrusy highlights, crushed stone and peach over a bright and silky mouthfeel. The wine's texture rates medium-plus, and the finish is both long and polished. The composed richness of the mouthfeel is the wine's best asset. It ages in old 500-liter French barrels for one year, and 5,000 bottles were created.

Winery Notes

Fresh bread, honey, apricot, graham cracker, and a kick of citrus right up front. The palate has a stove-top popcorn meets cheese rind quality in the best way. It’s smooth but lively, with that citrus carrying through. Nice minerality and a long finish that doesn’t quit.