Aphelion Welkin Chenin Blanc 2025

From a hot and dry vintage comes a pretty frisky wine. I’m guessing it was picked early to retain freshness. I don’t know whether I’d pick this as Chenin, which is no bad thing for me anyway. It comes over more like Pinot Grigio, green pear, citrus with a flicker of aniseed. It has crunch and freshness, a light sandstone grip to texture, some dried herb and lemon zest, with a finish of solid length. In short, it’s a refreshing lighter-framed dry white, and it drinks well. Points: 90/100

The Wine Front ∙ 14th Jul 2025

Again, from a single vineyard in Kuitpo, this saw two picks (one for freshness and the other for riper flavours and weight); fermented separately in steel. Nashi and yellow grapefruit, lemon balm and soft herbs, a little butter lettuce and snow pea tendril. That earlier pick leads the nose in a fragrant and zesty direction, the palate benefitting from a little more presence from that second pick, the overall impression one of satisfying refreshment and balanced intensity. Points: 92/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 24th Jun 2025