From the boutique Tembela label—meaning "faith, hope, belief" in isiXhosa and a tribute to winemaker Banele Vakele’s late mother—this 2024 Chenin Blanc is sourced from 40‑year‑old dryland bush vines planted on decomposed granite soils at Geluksoord Vineyard, near the Bottelary ward of Stellenbosch In its fifth release, Tembela continues to build a reputation for elegance and character.
Vinification & Elevage:
100% whole-bunch pressed, racked overnight
Fermented naturally in older 500 L oak barrels
Aged on lees for 10 months, then gently sheet-filtered; unfined, with minimal sulphur
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Pale straw with brilliant clarity.
Nose: Honeysuckle, quince, yellow peach, dried pineapple, white florals, and a touch of leesy nutmeg.
Palate: Silky texture with crunchy citrus, orchard fruit, fresh melon, and a structured savory finish that’s pithy yet poised.
Finish: Long, saline-tinged, and refreshingly textured.
Food Pairing: Perfect with creamy cheeses (e.g., aged Cheddar or Gruyère), oyster roasts, light curry, grilled seafood, or a nutty risotto; the wine’s texture and freshness make it superb as an aperitif.
Serving Suggestions: Serve chilled at 10–12 °C. Ideal lightly chilled to showcase its vibrant fruit, creamy lees complexity, and saline restraint.
Accolades:
Christian Eedes (Winemag.co.za): 94/100 — “a striking rendition… layers of flavour – think dried pineapple, white florals and peaches… texture and savoury nuances on the finish”
Tim Atkin MW: 93/100 — “leesy, savoury and mineral… kelp, lemongrass and yellow apple flavours and a pithy, refreshing finish”
Technical Details:
Grape: 100% Chenin Blanc (ca. 40‑year-old bush vines)
Soil: Decomposed granite
Alcohol: 13,5% ABV
Bottle Size: 750ml
pH: approx. 3.5; Total Acidity: 5.4 g/L; SO₂: 39 ppm
Production: Extremely limited—approx. 320 cases
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations:
If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
