MBALI, 2024, Chenin Blanc/Viognier, Western Cape, South Africa





We went to the Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada, Trader Joe's for a bottle of their Rear Admiral Joseph's Original Dry London Gin, which they did not have in stock. So, I remembered in some article I read that this was one of Trader Joe's top wines under $15, and the cheapest on the list. https://www.foodandwine.com/best-trader-joes-wines-under-15-11787907 

Here is another review of the wine: https://cheapwinefinder.buzzsprout.com/1762049/episodes/16854783-mbali-chenin-blanc-trader-joe-s-5-99-hidden-gem.

This was a very good choice as the wine was delicious and well worth the $5.99 price. It was smooth and easy drinking on one of the two hottest days of the year in Las Vegas. The wine is a blend of Chenin Blanc (79%) and Viognier (21%), and the bottle was filled at 10:15 on 03/19/2025. So, less than five months after being placed in the bottle, it was removed from the bottle by us.

Produced and bottled by Zidela Wines. 30 Techno Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa. Zidela is a private label wine producer https://www.zidelawines.co.za/

Mbali is the Zulu word for flower. The flower on the label is a Protea cynaroides. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protea_cynaroides which is South Africa's national flower and is resilient to harsh conditions.

Alcohol 13.5%.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

House of Brown California Rose, 2022

Image
A wine that is listed on the winery's website. And, listed for $19.99 a bottle. Which I did not pay since I bought it at Grocery Outlet. We paired this with fish and it went very well. This Rose had more taste than the average Rose, which we really liked. I would buy this again. The label is all one piece, there is no front and back, just one long label. Established in 1996,  the family-owned Brown Estate was Napa Valley's first Black-owned winery. Composition of this Rose wine is: 75% Zinfandel • 20% Muscat Blanc • 5% Viognier https://www.houseofbrown.wine/products/house-of-brown-2022-rose Produced and bottled by Brown Estate, Acampo, California. Alcohol 12,5%. Here's what they say about the wine: "Over the course of more than 25 years producing ultra premium Napa Valley Zinfandels, we harbored a low-key desire to elevate the reputation of Zinfandel rosé. We realized that goal in 2022 with House of Brown Rosé, representing our Brown Zin legacy for a new generation of ...
Read more

Fair Hills Cape Original, 2025, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa

Image
This was one of the Aldi's weekly sale wines. This was a very drinkable wine. I also liked that it was fresh, being a 2025 vintage and this being 2025. It did not stay in the bottle very long, not was it aged. I would buy this wine again. It cost 3.99 pounds or $5.33, taxes included. Chris Smit, winemaker. Bottled by Origin Wine, Stellenbosch and imported by them. Alcohol 11%. Origin Wine Stellenbosch handles over 80 million liters of wine per year and exports 72 million litres. Their services include Own Label Brand and product development, wine analysis, label design, wine treatment and blending.  https://www.originwine.co.za/
Read more

Eden Rift Vineyards, 2021, Chardonnay, Valiant Vineyards, Central Coast, California

Image
This is one of the best wines we have had! Slightly buttery with complex taste that had me rolling my tongue around my mouth. We bought this at the Waring Road Grocery Outlet in San Diego. I bought it because it was a cheap white, I believe it cost $3.99 per bottle. While I was there the wine buyer of this Grocery Outlet recommended this wine to a lady for an event she was having. Good choice. This wine had a Vivino rating of 4.0 and their price is $29.39 per bottle. Produced and bottled Eden Rift Vineyards, Hollister, California. Alcohol 13.9%.
Read more