Sans Barrique Chardonnay

A shell fish delight! Happy with sushi, summer salads and all fruits of the sea!

With dry summer conditions of the past few years persisting, harvest commenced on the last day of February and continued intermittently for the following three weeks – an unusually long picking window. Fruit quality proved to be excellent and cropping levels were encouraging.

The wine undergoes no malo-lactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6 month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate. An unwooded component of our Estate Chardonnay is introduced prior to bottling, contributing a stone fruit complexity.

In line with previous vintages, the majority of this wine originates from the elevated vineyards of the Elandskloof. Bunches are pressed and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours

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.