Stellenrust, Manor Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2020

Fermented and aged for seven months in 225-litre French oak barrels, there's a lot of creamy oak influence here, creating an immediate and heady impression of vanilla-coated almonds, peaches, and custard. But underneath this lies that honeyed peach character so typical of Chenin. Typified by ripeness and richness, this is big and bold, with dollops of clotted cream. There's a tense line of lime zest and lemon under there somewhere. As well as some marmalade, apricot and stony, flinty notes. The zesty high acidity keeps this all tucked in. A decadent wine, and still under the £15 mark, it would probably stand up to spicy dishes. Try it with a piquant Spanish Paella.