Usana wine tasting

On 24 February we visited the small farm of Klein Welmoed, just outside of Stellenbosch, with the Boland Wine club. Klein Welmoed houses the boutique winery called Usana. This is a little gem with wines of excellent quality. All of the wines were tasted, but sadly not all the notes that were made are quite complete... especially those sampled towards the end of the evening. So here follows those with notes complete and clear enough to comprehend.

Usana Chenin blanc 2013

Clear pale straw in colour.

On the nose the wine presents forthcoming aromas of orange blossom and notes of vanilla which indicates the that there was some contact with wood.

The entry is crisp and dry. The wine has a definate floral character, with fresh fruit and citrus flavours presenting themselves. The slight vanilla-ish aroma picked up on the nose follows through onto the palate. The acidity is medium, which gives a fresh, crisp character.
This is a light-bodied wine with a lingering fruity aftertaste.

I would give this Chenin Blanc 16.5/20.

Usana Pinot Gris 2015

Clear pale straw in colour.

This wine is initially shy on the nose, but becomes more expressed with oxidation. Stone fruit and honey aromas are detectable with notes of pot pouri subtly filttering through.

The crispness is the first and most noticible feature on entry. The fruitiness detected on the nose follows through onto the palate. This is a wine with medium to high acidity, true to the pinot grigio varietal, and a light body with a rather short finish.

This wine scores 16/20.

Usana Pinot Gris 2016

The 2016 Pinot Gris has a more intense colour than the 2015, with a slight pinkish tinge, due to the colour of the grape skins bleeding into the wine.

On the nose this wine is slightly forthcoming with aromas of pear and stone fruit most prominent. There is a undertone of a slight minerality or petrolium which disipates with oxidation.

Once again the crispness is notable. The fruity pear flavour follows through from the nose with an addition of crisp green apple. The acidity is medium to high as with the 2015.

Another 16/20 for the 2016.

Usana Sauvignon Blanc 2015

This wine has a very pale straw colour with a slightly greenish tinge.

This is an extremely forthcoming wine with aromas typical to a "green" sauvignon blanc. Asparagus and lemongrass aromas are the most prominent, with a slight herbaceousness being detected.

This is a very crisp wine,  with a lemony flavour. The asparagus and herbaceousness picked up on the nose follows through along with notes of green pepper. The finish is long with hints of green fresh herbs. This is a classic high acidity sauvignon blank.

This wine was scored 16.5/20.

Usana Sauvignon Blanc 2016

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc is pale straw in colour, and considerably less green than the 2015.

The aromas of citrus and lemongrass is forthcoming with undertones of green pepper. Tropical fruit such as pineapple litchi can also be detected. This is quite a complex sauvignon blanc.

The crisp acidity is the first feature to meet the palate. The wine has a high acidity with a distinct citrussy flavour with notes reminiscent of freshly cut grass. Fruity flavours such as unripe pineapple can also be detected. The finish of the wine is medium to long with herbaceous notes lingering on the palate.

This wine scored 16.5/20.

Usana Barrel fermented Chenin blanc 2013

The barrel fermented Chenin blanc is pale straw in colour.

On the nose, reserved aromas of vanilla, ripe fruits and hints of almonds can be detected.

The flavour of very ripe fruit follows through onto the palate. Notes of caramalised sugar can also be detected. The finish is long and distinctly fruity.

This is a well rounded, well balanced wine that scores a firm 17/20.

Usana Barrel fermented Chenin blanc 2014

The 2014 chenin is even paler than the 2013.

The nose is forthcoming, with aromas of vanilla and flowers such as orange blossoms and jasmine. A touch of butterscotch can also ba detected.

On the palate this is a crisp, dry fruity wine. Stone fruit is the most prominent flavour. The finish is long and lingering and fruity.

This wine scores 16.5/20.

Usana Fox Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

This wine has a deep pulish red hue.

On the nose this is a forthcoming wine. Aromas of red and blackberry jam is prominent with hints of tobacco or cigar box.

Initially the flavour of mixed berry jam is overwhelming with subtle banana flavours coming through. This is a full-bodied wine with a lingering berry aftertaste.

Land of Hope 2012 Reserve Chenin Blanc

It is a sweltering hot, lazy Sunday afternoon and the hubby and I are feeling rather peckish. What better way to unwind than with a well aged bottle of wine and some cheese?
On the menu for the day is a 2012 barrel matured chenin blanc from Land of Hope.
The wine has a rich golden straw colour.
On the nose I detect orange blossom, vanilla butterscotch and ripe sweet pear, honey melon and tropical fruit. This is most certainly no shy wine, with loads of complexity.
The entry is smooth and slightly crisp. The fruitiness from the nose follows through onto the palate, creating a lingering sweet finish. There is a slight warming effect which could mean that the alcohol content might be marginally higher than usual. The wood is detectable through the forthcoming vanilla and butterscotch both on the nose and palate. The acidity is medium to low, while the sweetness could be contributed to either the residual sugar or alcohol level.
Overall this wine is excellent for enjoying solo.
For the cheeses we picked Pick'n'Pay's Mon Ami French Brie and Meze's Smoked Mozzarella.
Firstly with the brie; the woodiness in the chenin was accentuated, while the fruitiness was downplayed rather obviously.
Secondly with the smoked mozzarella; a crispness that was not apparent earlier, became the most noticeable feature of the wine.
To conclude: Land of Hope Chenin Blanc is an excellent wine to enjoy on its own or with something like rich creamy cheeses. I would rate this wine 17.5 out of 20. If you have this specific year, drink it now, it is at its prime!