2013 Valley Vineyards, The Royal Chenin Blanc

I’ve been drinking a lot of Chenin Blanc recently, mostly Vouvray from the Loire region of France. So when I saw The Royal at Total Wine, I was curious to see what South African Chenin Blanc (also called Steen in South Africa) tasted like.

For less than $10, I’ve got to say I was extremely happy with the purchase. The wine was easy drinking, apple and passion fruit on the nose with a hint of minerality. The wine was clean with high acidity and good balance even if it was very simple. This is an excellent example of what to drink on a hot summer day when you want refreshment instead of complexity.