2022 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.5%
Residual Sugar 2.7 g/L
pH 3.5
Total Acidity 4.5 g/L
Calories (estimated) 105 kcal / glass
150ml glass105 kcal
750ml bottle525 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 8-15 years from production
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay, Granite
Estate Grown Yes
Grape Clone CY 3
Vine Age planted 1988
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Gently Whole-Bunch Pressed
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Details 24% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak24%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 300L
Oak Toast Level Lightly Toasted
Production Details Hand-harvested and gently whole-bunch pressed. Approximately 8 pickings were needed to complete the block. Juice settled overnight, then racked into 300L French oak barrels for fermentation including malolactic fermentation. After 4 months, batches were evaluated and blended before additional ageing. Fermented and aged in lightly toasted 300L French oak barrels, 24% new, for 10 months.
Tasting Notes
Nose: refined minerality, stone fruit, melon, green olive leaf, citrus blossom, honeysuckle
Palate: flinty, white peach, nectarine, gentle oak, chalky mineral texture, vibrant acidity
Food Pairing cream-based dishes, butter-based dishes
2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.25%
Residual Sugar 1.82 g/L
pH 3.49
Total Acidity 4.59 g/L
Calories (estimated) 105 kcal / glass
150ml glass105 kcal
750ml bottle525 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 2023-2031+
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay and granite
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole-Bunch Pressed
Malolactic Fermentation 100%
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 300L
Sulfites 81.0 ppm
Vegan Yes
Vegetarian Yes
Production Details Hand-harvested bunches, gently whole-bunch pressed in cellar. Approximately 8 different pickings to complete the block. Juice settled overnight. Racked into 300L French oak barrels for fermentation including malolactic fermentation. After 4 months, individual batches evaluated and blended. Additional 7 months aging. Fermented and aged in 300L lightly toasted French oak barrels, 8% new, for 11 months total.
2020 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.2%
Residual Sugar 1.85 g/L
pH 3.48
Total Acidity 5.41 g/L
Calories (estimated) 100 kcal / glass
150ml glass100 kcal
750ml bottle500 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 8-10+ years from production
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay, Granite
Estate Grown Yes
Vine Age planted 1988
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole-Bunch Pressed
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 15% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak15%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 300L
Oak Toast Level Lightly Toasted
Production Details Hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed. Approximately 8 pickings were needed to complete the block. Juice settled overnight, then fermented in 300L French oak barrels. After 4 months, batches were evaluated and blended before an additional 7 months of ageing. The 2020 vintage matured for 11 months in 100% French oak barrels, 15% new, with minimal malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness.
Tasting Notes
Nose: warm richness, lemon curd, light toast
Palate: fresh acidity, honey melon, toasty oak, zesty minerality
Food Pairing cream-based dishes, butter-based dishes
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin SA Special Report: 94
Tim Atkin SA Special Report94
Winemag.co.za91
2019 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.0%
Residual Sugar 1.8 g/L
pH 3.54
Total Acidity 5.4 g/L
Calories (estimated) 100 kcal / glass
150ml glass100 kcal
750ml bottle500 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 2021-2030
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay and granite
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole-Bunch Pressed
Malolactic Fermentation 25%
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size French oak barrels
Vegan Yes
Vegetarian Yes
Production Details Whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented with bâtonnage for 3 months. Minimal malolactic fermentation, opting for freshness. Spent 11 months in 100% French oak barrels, of which 15% was new.
2018 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.0%
Residual Sugar 2.4 g/L
pH 3.5
Total Acidity 6.5 g/L
Calories (estimated) 100 kcal / glass
150ml glass100 kcal
750ml bottle500 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 2020-2029
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay and granite
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole-Bunch Pressed
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 300L
Sulfites 81.0 ppm
Vegan Yes
Vegetarian Yes
Production Details Made from some of the oldest Chardonnay plantings in South Africa, planted in 1988. Whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented. Aged in 300L French oak barrels with lightly toasted character.
2017 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.8%
Residual Sugar 2.4 g/L
pH 3.5
Total Acidity 4.9 g/L
Calories (estimated) 105 kcal / glass
150ml glass105 kcal
750ml bottle525 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 2020-2027
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Red clay and granite
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels French Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole-Bunch Pressed
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 100% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak100%
Oak Types French oak
Barrel Size 300L
Vegan Yes
Vegetarian Yes
Production Details Made from some of the oldest Chardonnay plantings in South Africa, planted in 1988. Whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented. Aged in 300L French oak barrels, 22% new, for 11 months.
Producer Information
Website
Address
Upper Blaauwklippen Rd, Helderberg Rural, Stellenbosch, 7600
Phone
+27 (0)21 880 5300
Cellarmaster
Mark le Roux