Missionvale Chardonnay

Scallops with French celeriac & granny smith apple puree. Whole Cape Salmon on the braai, liberally basted with garlic butter, or freshly shucked oysters.

Vintage 2019 will long be remembered for the raging wild fire that swept across the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the 11 January – less than three weeks before the first grapes were picked. We were fortunate not to be severely impacted and brought in a healthy, although significantly lighter crop. Chardonnay is particularly sensitive to warmer spells during winter, which activates premature budding. Sunny conditions during July 2018 resulted in unprecedented uneven growth and ripening. Weather conditions remained cool and relatively dry throughout February and March.

Apart from 8 months in oak, elevage was completed by a 2 month resting period in tank, prior to bottling in January 2020.

Harvesting was based on individual bunch ripeness, rather than the usual vineyard average, necessitating up to three picks per vineyard. Fermentation of the clear juice commences spontaneously in oak, before inoculation midway to ensure complete dryness. 5% of the bottling was fermented in terra cotta ampho- ra, which afforded the winemaking team an opportunity to fine-tune the volume of tension.

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.