Angus Paul, Flight of Furious Fancies Chenin Blanc 2024

Get to know: Angus Paul, On A Flight Of Furious Fancies Chenin Blanc 2023

Tasting Note

A distinctive South African Chenin Blanc from the Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch, showcasing old vine character and coastal influence.

Angus Paul, On A Flight Of Furious Fancies Chenin Blanc 2023 is a finely tuned, mineral-driven white that balances precision with a subtle, rounded texture. Pale lemon in colour with lifted aromas of orchard blossom, green apple, pear, and a gentle hint of flint and seashell. On the palate, this Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is tight and focused, with crisp acidity driving flavours of citrus zest, apple, and white stone fruit, softened by a light creamy edge from partial malolactic fermentation. There's a saline, almost coastal freshness running through it, finishing long, clean, and quietly complex. This is a beautifully poised South African white wine that captures both energy and finesse.

Top food pairings:

• Sesame-crusted tuna tataki with pickled radish
• Grilled sea bass with lemon and herbs
• Goat's cheese salad with apple and walnuts

Kate Says

"This is a serious showcase of what really good Chenin from South Africa can do. Pure skillful winemaking from a single hilltop vineyard. The result is stunning. A really complex wine, full of life and vibrancy. The name is inspired by a 17th Century English poem - Tom O'Bedlam."

Producer Info

Angus Paul is part of an exciting new wave of winemakers in Stellenbosch, focused on South Africa's heritage grapes and minimal intervention techniques. Working with old vine Chenin Blanc from a single Polkadraai Hills vineyard, he allows site and season to take centre stage. The granite soils, coastal winds, and careful, hands-off approach combine to produce a South African Chenin Blanc with real tension, purity, and a strong sense of place.

How it's made:

• Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Hand-harvested from a single old vine vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills
• Whole-bunch pressed with minimal intervention
• Wild fermentation in neutral oak barrels with no additives
• Aged for 11 months in barrel with partial malolactic fermentation and no fining

Good to know:

• Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Style: White, still, medium-bodied
• Closure: Cork
• Vegan: Yes
• ABV: 12.5%
• Vintage: 2023

Why we love it:

This South African Chenin Blanc is all about precision, texture, and sense of place. With its mineral edge, bright acidity, and subtle creaminess, it's a brilliant choice for those looking to explore a more refined, site-driven style of Stellenbosch white wine.