Chardonnay Reserve

Following harvesting between 20-28th February 2021 the berries were cooled to 5ºC prior to a whole bunch press using the “Champagne” press cycle. After clarifying over-night pressed juice was transferred to 225 litre French oak barrels (65% new barrels, 35% 2nd fill) for fermentation. Our Reserve Chardonnay was 100% barrel fermented, using natural yeast with extended lees contact and daily batonnage. 40% of this wine underwent malolactic fermentation.

2021 harvest was approx. 2 weeks later than normal due to cooler weather throughout the season, which persisted through harvest time and expressed itself with vines of higher acidity. The season produced strong vine growth, good bunch and berry sizes. The 2021 chardonnay grapes were specially sourced and hand selected by our Cellar Master from two sites, a high altitude slope on the Banhoek side of the Simonsberg Mountain and a vineyard in the Franschhoek Valley. These locations are diverse in nature but each site has its own characteristics which blend well to create this fine chardonnay.