2020 Tussock Jumper Chenin Blanc: Delicious Value Wine

Back in December 2019, I wrote about a number of tasty value wines that were sold under the Tussock Jumper Wines brand. You can check out my prior article for more background about this brand. 

In short, Tussock Jumper sources wines from regions all across the world, from California to Australia, Germany to South Africa, Portugal to Italy, and elsewhere. There are around 20 or so of their wines available in the U.S. They source the grapes for their wines from multiple small farms and vineyards, bottling the wine near the source, to help the local communities.

As their website states, "tussock" is "a tuft-like grass that grows in meadowlands all around the world, but each species is unique to its region. It’s also a nod to our commitment to preserving nature, and sustainable winemaking." 

Their wines are generally priced under $15, and I previously felt that their wines compared very well to similarly priced wines. They were tasty and pleasant, delivering good quality at their price point, and offering more than some other value wines. 

I recently tasted the new vintage of one of their wines, the 2020 Tussock Jumper Chenin Blanc ($11.99). This wine is from Stellenbosch, South Africa, made with 100% Chenin Blanc and has a 13.5% ABV. It was produced with minimal cellar intervention, and spent about four months aging on the lees. I found this vintage similar to that of 2017, possessed of crisp acidity, tropical fruit flavors, and some subtle mineralogy. There were some peach notes in this vintage, and it had a pleasing and fairly long finish. 

I paired the Chenin Blanc with some simple seared scallops, and it was a fine pairing. This wine is very food friendly, and perfect for the summer, sipping on its own, or paired with salads, chicken, and seafood. Definitely an excellent buy at this price.