Angus Paul is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in South African wine. Recently a contender for Rising Star of the Year, Paul made a striking mark with his 2024 release and is hailed by Tim Atkin as ‘a young winemaker with a stellar future’.
The first, Fantamtango Chenin Blanc 2024, scoring 95 points: is his best wine yet, according to Atkin. From the Upper Blaauwklippen, these vines were planted in the 1980s close to the river. It leaves a vivid impression with notes of ‘beeswax, pear, yellow apple, racy acidity’ (Atkin).
This Chenin Blanc is produced from a single vineyard, located in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley on the Helderberg Mountains: A region well known for outstanding wines. Nestled at 280m above sea level in the shadow of the mountain, the site is cool by Stellenbosch standards.
Grapes are hand-picked and cooled overnight. The following morning, they are put into the press and pressed as whole bunches. No sulphur, yeast, acid, enzymes or water were added.
Very cloudy juice was transferred to neutral oak barrels, with only the heaviest of solids left behind. Fermentation took place over 4 weeks, after which about half of the barrels completed malolactic fermentation. In Autumn, wines were sulphured for the first time. The wines were bottled in December after spending 11 months in barrel with no racking or fining.
Tasting Notes: Baked clay, jasmine and yellow peaches denote the signature of the vineyards. It is a classic Chenin in this respect. Pure and exotic. Look a little deeper, and the subtler nuances of citrus unveil themselves. The palate rips with tension, fizzling down the tongue as a sherbet powder. Drinks like it was blended with a German Rielsing, it has a fattyness to it and richness as well. A very unique Chenin!
Food Pairing: With its riper, rounder profile of peach, nectarine, and a touch of pineapple, is a versatile partner at the table. Its richer texture and stone‑fruit character give it the weight to complement creamy pasta dishes like Alfredo or mushroom risotto, while its freshness keeps lighter fare such as grilled white fish or prawns and calamari lively and bright. The wine’s subtle fruit sweetness balances the gentle heat of Thai or Asian cuisine, and its rounded palate pairs beautifully with roast chicken or soft, washed‑rind cheeses like Camembert. Altogether, it offers both the generosity to handle creamier or mildly spiced dishes and the lift to shine with delicate seafood.
ANALYSIS: ALC 13.12% | TA 5.4g/L | pH 3.31 | RS 1.3g/L
