⭐️88/100⭐️ Testalonga El Bandito Cortez, 2015 📍Swartland
4/8/2021, 8:25:43 PM ⭐️88/100⭐️ Testalonga El Bandito Cortez, 2015 📍Swartland, South Africa🇿🇦 🍇100% Chenin Blanc Tasted: March 2020 Located in the deeply conservative wine country of South Africa, Testalonga was founded back in 2008 by Craig and Carla Hawkings. Opposite to the rooted traditions of winemaking, the Hawkings are playing with hardcore organic and biodynamic farming (even some vegan wines among), skin-contacted white wines - all procedures with as much intervention-free cellar practice as possible. Even though natural wine-producing is slowly growing in South Africa, Testalonga is still considered very radical.
Foudre and steel tank, a few days of maceration and no filtration. The wine looks bright golden and cloudy. Expressive aromas of yellow apple, ginger, freshly baked bread, light honey and some slightly smoked and reductive notes. The palate shows a medium-bodied structure with a tiny tannic level. Fresh pear, orange peel, pomelo, nuts and layers of warm herbs. It’s quite mineral and saline too.
To sum up, this wine beautifully balance the contrasts of depth, warmth and freshness. It’s funky without being too crazy. Spottet at @cork _vinbar #wine #winelover #elbandito #elbanditocortez #cortez #testalonga #swartland #southafrica #southafricanwine #cheninblanc #naturalwine #biodynamicwine #organicwine #sommelier #instawine #wineporn #winestagram #vin #organic #biodynamic ic #vegan #vinblanc #vinobianco #cork