# Secrets & Lies Chenin Blanc (2023)

- **Producer:** Stellenrust
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chenin Blanc
- **Region:** Western Cape, South Africa
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, lemon, peach, honeysuckle, grapefruit, apricot, vanilla, butter, cream, cloves, honey

## About this wine

The Stellenrust Secrets & Lies Chenin Blanc is a single-varietal wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa. It is produced by Stellenrust, a family winery established in 1928. The grapes are sourced from old, unirrigated bush vines over 40 years old, grown on granite soils in the Bottelary Hills. The 2023 vintage benefited from a long ripening season due to a cool summer. The wine's name, 'Secrets & Lies,' hints at its layered complexity, a characteristic that has earned it significant critical acclaim, including being named Chenin Blanc of the Year by Platter's Wine Guide.

## Interesting facts

- Named 'Chenin Blanc of the Year' by Platter's Wine Guide 2025 (97 points).
- Consistently recognized among South Africa's top Chenins.
- Grapes come from a 41-year-old unirrigated vineyard.
- Fermented spontaneously in French oak barrels.

## Food pairing

The wine's lively acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty fish, while its textured palate complements the body of dishes like risotto and roasted chicken. Subtle oak notes can echo the char of grilled elements or the earthiness of root vegetables.

## Wine making process

The Stellenrust Secrets & Lies Chenin Blanc is produced from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes. The grapes are gently pressed, and the must is partly fermented in used French oak barrels. Fermentation is spontaneous, occurring in 225-liter French oak barrels. The wine then undergoes maturation on fine lees for five to nine months in these barrels, contributing to its texture and complexity. The grapes are sourced from unirrigated, old bush vines.