Eleanor Chardonnay 2019

Located on the cool slopes of Bottelary Hills, in the heart of South Africa's Stellenbosch region, Hartenberg Estate benefits from a maritime climate tempered by breezes from False Bay. The soils are mainly composed of decomposed granite and deep clays, offering natural drainage while retaining sufficient moisture for the vines. This mosaic of terroirs, combined with varied exposures, allows the Chardonnay to ripen slowly, developing a beautiful aromatic complexity while maintaining balanced acidity and a precise expression of its origin.

The grapes are hand-harvested and then whole-bunch pressed before light settling. The must is transferred to French oak barrels where alcoholic fermentation takes place, followed by partial malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged on fine lees in barrels, with regular bâtonnage, to gain texture and complexity, before final blending and bottling at the estate.

This wine reveals notes of stone fruit, ripe citrus, and delicate tropical fruit, enhanced by subtle touches of white flowers, elegant spicy nuances, and a fine woody character with hints of vanilla and toasted hazelnut. The palate is full and creamy, supported by a fresh acidity that extends the tasting, with a silky, well-balanced texture, and a long, precise finish, marked by a slightly mineral sensation.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.