Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay

The richness of the wine works very well with a mild tandoori salmon and coriander chutney. Leafy herb salad with a light drizzle of miso dressing. Classic avocado ritz.

It’s been remarked before how the weather, during recent odd vintages, seems to behave to the benefit of local vintners.2021 followed this pattern of 2019, 2017 and 2015. Yields varied significantly between cultivars and apart from a big rain event on 14 March, dry and cool conditions prevailed during picking. Phenolic ripeness out performed sugar accumulation in the berries, resulting in juices with low potential alcohol and balanced natural acidities. The elevation at which these vineyards grow, play a significant role in the resulting wine. At 800m above sea level, berries tend to be smaller and skins thicker. Lower juice recoveries can be expected, however, fruit flavours are abundant and the vintage consistency remarkable.

The wine matured in French oak for 8 months, with a 23% new component. Bottling in January 2023, the first in amber or dead leaf bottles, adding an additional layer of protection against light degradation.

Picking is done by hand and the grapes chilled overnight, before being delivered to the cellar early the following morning. Our pneumatic bag presses are loaded with whole bunches and pressed with multiples rotations, during the three-hour cycle. Fermentation occur in barrel and initiate spontaneously by indigenous yeast populations.

One of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by great fold mountains and breath-taking ocean views it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. The vineyards are surrounded by an indigenous floral conservancy alive with birdsong and wildflowers. Beyond the beauty of the farm itself you can discover the enchantments of the local area. Some of the popular attractions of nearby Hermanus include whale-watching; shark-cage diving; mountain hiking or biking; browsing art antiques and shops; and of course the white sandy beaches.