Chardonnay

Excellent with caviar, snails, carpaccio pâté, crayfish (Cape rock-lobster), prawns, mussels, perlemoen (abalone) and creamy cheese.

Conditions following the 2019 vintage harvest were favourable and good reserves were built up in the vines. Rainfall was lower than average, but the weather was cold enough to allow good and even budding. Summer conditions were mild, without heat-waves. which promoted flavour development. The harvest was larger than that of 2019, while acids were slightly lower, probably as a result of the larger production. The vineyard grows in sandy soil of sandstone and granite origin - the oldest and largest block was planted in 1997. Yield is naturally low and was between 5 and 6 tons per hectare in 2020. In order to promote good acid and different fruit profiles, grapes are harvested on different dates. Vineyard blocks are managed to maintain a perfect balance between leaf coverage and yield. Grapes were picked by hand.

Twenty percent of the French oak barrels in which the wine was matured, were new. After the 12 month maturation period, all the components were blended.

Initially, fermentation was in tanks, while further fermentation and maturation were in 300-litre barrels. Malolactic fermentation was also in barrels. One third of the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks, without malolactic fermentation. Twenty percent of the French oak barrels in which the wine was matured, were new.

La Motte is a Franschhoek wine estate with a long-standing reputation for classic South African wines and Cape heritage. Known for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah and elegant red blends, the estate combines Franschhoek character with a polished, food-friendly style.