Medium gold color; lemon-lime, peach, pear, pineapple, some green apple, orange blossom, jasmine, oak, vanilla, spice, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; no or low tannins; medium-plus acidity. Classic oak and buttery version of chardonnay made interesting with citrus peel and salinity in the mid-palate and pleasingly long finish. Medium-plus body. Pure chardonnay play from neighboring Fijnbosch Estate and Nooitgedact vineyards, plus Zeter and Sonop in Stellenbosch District. Warm days and cool afternoon sea breezes help fruit ripening while preserving acidity. Aged in French oak, 30% new, for 10 months. 14% ABV
Capensis—which is Latin for “from the Cape”—is part of the Jackson Family Wines group. Barbara Banke is the chairman and proprietor; she co-founded the enterprise with her late husband, Jess Jackson. Graham Weerts is the winemaker. He is a Cape Town native. His wine career started in South Africa, but he also spent time in Bordeaux and Sonoma County. In addition to Capensis, Graham oversees vineyard operations for Jackson Family Wines. Cedrick Delport is the farm and vineyard manager.
The website notes: “South Africa’s Western Cape can be called both the oldest wine region of the New World and the newest wine region of the Old World. Capensis skillfully combines these two facets—the oldest and the newest—of Western Cape winemaking. It embodies the unparalleled quality that comes from old, gnarled vines planted in some of the oldest soils in the world, and it represents the young energy of a new generation of winemakers determined to make world-class wines with state-of-the-art techniques.”
Capensis Silene Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 2021 is a classic butter and oak chardonnay done with deft and discerning touch. Impressive fruit that leans toward citrus and peach-pear rather than apple with intriguing minerality and finishing touch of salinity. This is the entry-level Capensis chardonnay, selling for around $40. Their next level goes for twice that, and their single-vineyard Fijnbosch for $115. Capensis is part of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio. Pair with pork—grilled pork chops, pork tenderloin; poultry—roast chicken, chicken in creamy sauces, chicken salad with peach and mango fruits; rich fish—salmon, tuna, cod, halibut; shellfish—scallops, crab, prawns, lobster; charcuterie board with prosciutto, salami, mortadella; vegetarian fare; Caesar salad. Cheese—camembert, brie, triple-cream cheeses, aged cheddar, gouda, comté, gruyère, havarti. $40-45
