Chardonnay

Pairs well with seafood, poultry, and dishes with creamy sauces.

The “once in many lifetimes” Cape Storm of September 24th and 25th, 2023, with extreme wind speeds from the south, significantly compromised flowering, particularly in our Chardonnay, resulting in record low yields. The extremely high rainfall created conditions which meant 2024 was a vintage with unusually high disease pressure right up to the completion of harvest. At 25.05 centigrade for the average maximum temperatures for Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, 2024 was a touch warmer than the particularly cool 2023. Uneven berry size - not necessarily a bad thing – was another consequence of high wind and rain during flowering. Harvest was earlier than average and 9 days earlier than 2023. The resulting wines have lighter than usual alcohols, with a beautiful fruit purity and balance. Our skilled team nursed wines of great beauty out of a challenging vintage.

Fermented and matured in 300 L French oak barrels (100% tight grain), for 9 months; Oak regime: 28% new, 27% second-fill, 28% third-fill, 17% older oak.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards – one of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea – pioneered viticulture and winemaking in the beautiful cool maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The Estate specialises in producing highly individual terroir driven Pinot noir and Chardonnay which are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the finest in the New World.