Vineyard Selection Chardonnay

Pork, Rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), Vegetarian, Poultry

Due to a cool, wet spring, budding was 7 to 14 days later than usual, but consistently good and even, promising excellent quality and a great vintage. The grapes were predominantly sourced from Stellenbosch with a small portion from Robertson. The Stellenbosch vineyard are planted in decomposed granite soils and provides structure and fruit to the wine whilst the Robertson portion is planted in limestone-based soils and provide texture and mineral elements.

The wine spent a total of 8 months in barrel before blending and bottling. A combination of 60% new and the rest second and third fill 400l French oak barrels were used.

The grapes were harvested between 21 - 23°balling and after crushing most of the juice was given extended skin contact for at least 12 hours before it was pressed. Certain portions were “whole bunch” pressed to ensure elegance and finesse. Only the free run portion of the juice was used for this selection. After 1 day of settling the juice was racked to a fermentation vessel where we inoculate with a slow fermenting yeast strain. The juice was racked into barrel 1 day after inoculation and left to ferment at low temperature until dry.

Kleine Zalze wines are marked by a classical structure and complexity matched by a vibrant flavour intensity. Discernibly South African in style, they are refreshing, beautifully balanced and well-suited to food. Our wines are made according to traditional methods with minimal cellar intervention, but supported by modern equipment.