Western Cape, South AfricaSouth Africa wine prices are almost always affordable, so if the wine shows any promise, you win. In this case, the crisp fruit of Elgin Valley joins the richer Stellenbosch grapes to come together to make this clean, tasty chardonnay. The wine spends ten months in a 30/70 mix of stainless steel and oak, the latter containing about 12 percent new barrels. The nose has a rich buttery aroma, but the wine behind it is fresher than you might expect before some residual sugar (4 g/L) kicks in to smooth out the finish. A modern white worth checking out.Tasted: 13 April 2021Tasted by: Prices:
Western Cape, South AfricaBoschendal was founded in 1685, making it one of the oldest and grandest Cape estates. This chardonnay was sourced from Stellenbosch, Elgin, and the Boschendal farm proper in Franschhoek. It was whole bunch pressed and partial native fermented in stainless steel, before 70% was transferred to French oak for 10 months (12% new) maturing on lees. Rich and full with lemon curd, baked green apple, wood spicing on a creamy palate, braced by bright lemon peel acidity. This is a fuller style, well-handled, bringing it towards modernity.Tasted: 13 April 2021Tasted by: Prices:
Western Cape, South AfricaFruit from Stellenbosch, Elgin Valley, and Boschendal's estate was whole cluster pressed and then fermented, with inoculation occurring after wild yeasts had fermented approximately two Brix of sugar. It then aged for 10 months in a combination of barrel (70% of the blend, 12% new) and stainless steel (30%). This is led by ripe stone fruits that have been tossed in butter and accented by spicy oak. It's a notch fresher than you'd expect from the nose, medium-bodied at 13.5% abv, and the light touch of residual sugar (4 g/L) makes it even more easy drinking.Tasted: 13 April 2021Tasted by: Prices:
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