
2021 Momento Chenin Blanc-Verdelho Western Cape
94
Decanter
Review Date: 01/2024This blend of two vineyards of Chenin Blanc and two of Verdelho is especially bright and detailed in the celebrated 2021 vintage. Marelise says that harvest was relatively serene and she was able to pick her Verdelho later than usual, and the proportion is higher in 2021 than 2020. The wine is both fresher and firmer than the 2020, with a beautifully delineated set of flavours: ripe Golden Delicious apple, dried apricot, physalis and fresh quince. The palate is concentrated and muscular, framed by an energising, vital acidity and the finish shows remarkable persistence. A distinctive, structured and powerful wine, this shows off the sparkling freshness of granite soils and the power and drive of shale. This is the bread-and-butter of the estate, and Marelise’s best-selling wine in her range. It spends 10 months in oak and is made with low intervention principles. (JM)
Product Availability
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Professional Reviews
94
Vinous
Review Date: 11/2023
Staff Reviews

Review Date: 10/2025
Email AaronNotes
Momento was founded in 2013 while Marelise Niemann was the winemaker at Beaumont Family Wines in Bot River. Since then, she has earned a reputation for producing wines of purity, elegance, and honesty. She works with old vines in both Bot River and the Swartland, following a minimal intervention philosophy that highlights terroir. Marelise is deeply committed to using grape varieties that thrive in South Africa’s climate—those that can withstand low rainfall and high temperatures, naturally integrate with their environment, and require minimal inputs. Varieties like Chenin, Verdelho, and Grenache flourish in these dry, warm conditions. For Marelise, the future lies in working with well-adapted grapes, minimizing energy and water use, and allowing vineyards to thrive with minimal interference.
Product Details
Origin: South Africa
Type/Varietal: Chenin Blanc
SKU: #1903776

