Tukulu hullabaloo!

The wines of Tukulu from South Africa are produced in the Nederburg cellar by Distell and a black empowerment venture. I will post the website after the TN.

WTN: `08 Tukulu Chenin Blanc Papkuilsfontein, Darling SA.

Good natural cork, $22 Cdn, 13% alc. Food was chicken scallopini, marinaded with basil and lemon juice.

The color was a lime green with very faint lemon traces. On the nose, we found apricot, peach, quite an intense minerally CB nose here.
On the palate, dry, minerally, high acidity, zippy citrus finish. Non-oaked and thankfully no metallic taste here. As it aired (I served quite chilled), "some pear and apricot" from across the table. Medium-bodied, some surprising nutty taste after 3 hrs. I quite like this, only one store in town stocks this. I am not a big expert in SA CB but think this unoaked chenin might be typical?

http://www.bwi.co.za/members/member.asp?MemberID=34

Sounds lovely. At the Lisbon duty free shop I saw a Laroche chenin from SA (didn't know Laroche were there too) that was tempting. In fact, SA as a whole sounds tempting as a wine trip. Must be changing a lot.

Yes, Micehl Laroche bought L'Avenir Estate just outside Stellenbosch a couple of years ago. He dropped Estate status, bought the neighbouring farm primarily to demolish the distinctive 'castle' structure they had, and added new levels of wines including some from bought in grapes -- and introduced screw capsa on many of them

L'Avenir Estate always had a reputation for their Chenin and Pinotage.

I understand that Michel has decided he has reached an age where he wants to divest himself of some of the responsibility and is looking for a partner or to sell. Not sure of the status of L'Avenir now.

I must look out for this Tukulu chenin; it sounds my sort of wine.

Re Michel Laroche, I seem to remember reading in a wine publication that his group is up for sale and this seems to be confirmed here http://lullyconseil.unblog.fr/2009/02/1 ... e-chablis/ . On Laroche's own site, falling sales, an economy campaign and an arrangement with banks to defer repayments are reported.
At a recent tasting, a small Chablis grower talked with evident glee about Michel Laroche's troubles.

Tasting note written especially with you in mind Tim!!!!