Chardonnay Reserve

West coast rock lobster served with lemon butter sauce. Slow poached pernod oysters with fresh apple, verjuice dill and lees. Roasted monkfish wrapped in parma ham. Hand dived sea scallops pan fried with a pea purée.

Winter 2021 saw cool temperatures and good strong rains allowing the vines a chance to rest. Growing season was dominated by moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall and winds and a slow ripening period. 2022 harvest was a little later than normal due to cooler weather throughout the season, which persisted through harvest time and expressed itself with grapes of higher acidity. The season produced strong vine growth, good bunch and berry sizes. The 2022 Chardonnay grapes were specially sourced and hand selected by our Cellar Master from Franschhoek and Banhoek Valley. These locations are diverse in nature but each site has its own characteristics which blend well to create this fine chardonnay.

Following harvesting between 15-25th February 2022 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 (60% new barrels, 40% 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.

Holden Manz is a family owned wine producer located in the heart of the beautiful Franschhoek Valley. Established by owners Gerard Holden & Migo Manz in 2010 the estate grows cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah and sources a selection of white varietals from specialist growers.