Stellenbosch Chardonnay

Crab with Cannellini Bean Salad and Citrus Vinaigrette.

This exceptional Chardonnay vineyard is planted on the higher gravelly slopes of the Helderberg Mountain at 410 metres above sea level. The site’s maritime influence allows us to harvest the fruit with incredible intensity of flavour and zesty freshness. The grapes were hand-harvested on the cool mornings of the 4th and 6th of February 2020 and yielded six tons/ha, which translated to an average of thirty-six HL/ha.

This wine was aged for 12 months in 225L tight grain French oak barrels, of which 30% was new, followed by a further 8 months’ maturation after blending.

The grapes were whole-bunch pressed and the juice was allowed to settle overnight. The aerated must was then racked to barrel for primary fermentation, which lasted more than 40 days, followed by malolactic fermentation, both of which occurred naturally. After spending 12 months on the lees, the wine was racked, blended and underwent a further 8 months’ maturation before the only sulphur addition and then bottling.

The Leeu Passant winery, based in Franschhoek, was established in 2013 with the purpose of harnessing the most exciting vineyards of the Cape in order to create multi-regional wines from vineyards aimed at expressing the Cape as a whole (not only from Franschhoek). The Name “Leeu Passant” is derived from Heraldry, referring to a ‘passing Lion’ and this is the symbol on the top of the capsule. Chris and Andrea Mullineux search far and wide for the best parcels of grapes for these wines, and make them at the Leeu Passant base, on Leeu Estates.