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#408 City on a Hill Chenin Blanc 2021

#408 COAH Chenin Blanc Bottle Shot (500 x 850 px)

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If you thought Chenin Blanc was all about easy summer sipping, André Bruyns is here to politely, yet firmly, shake that glass from your hand. Made by the gifted, quietly rebellious farm manager of Swartland legend Lammershoek (and creator of the City on a Hill label), this wine is less “background music,” more “press play and pay attention.”

Today, we’re diving into a Chenin shaped by a winemaker who refuses to follow a corporate rulebook—someone whose wines are as fluid and thoughtful as a well-written plot twist (yes, even more seamless than Blair Waldorf’s mom swap in Gossip Girl).
You’ll learn why South Africa now out-Loire’s the Loire when it comes to Chenin Blanc, how André’s philosophy ties back to ancient scripture, and why this bottle isn’t just about what’s in the glass—it’s about a whole way of seeing (and tasting) the world differently.

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If you have yet to sign up for your Monthly HanDrinksSolo Wine Subscription then you’ll have to hunt this wine down in your own to be able to connect the info to the wine in the bottle. But until then, I’ve left you some tasting notes and technical specs.

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TASTING NOTES

👃🏼 The nose is moody in the best way: smoky flint, struck match, and river stone, with a touch of reduction. As it opens, subtle layers of peach, coriander, and white pepper emerge, along with the faintest whisper of hay—an early sign of time beginning to do its magic.

👄Juicy yet weighty, with ripe orange, nectarine, and lemon candy notes melting into a salty, white-grapefruit marmalade finish. The palate shows confident balance — a wine that doesn’t rush, but arrives exactly when it means to, standing out with effortless brightness and clarity. A wine made to shine. Like, well… a city on a hill.