At the table with Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024
On this creamy chardonnay, we suggest beautiful scallops browned in butter with a leek fondue, roast poultry, a parmesan and shrimp risotto, or creamy cheeses like a Saint-Félicien.
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Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024Crystallum
The Chardonnay Clay Shales cuvée is a wine made from a single plot located on the ridge of Hemel-en-Aarde, benefiting from an ideal position in the shadow of a mountain, at high altitude and close to the ocean . This wine is named after the Bokkeveld clay and shale soils on which the vines grow. The harvest is manual and fermentation takes place using native yeasts, without the use of chemical inputs apart from a small quantity of sulfur. Aging on lees lasts 10 months in old barrels and tuns. This wine reveals notes of lemon thyme , toasted oats , white peach , apricot , quince , fresh butter and oyster shells . The palate is round and generous, balanced by mineral tension and a fine acidity, giving it freshness and elegance. A sublime Chardonnay which is certainly one of the finest examples from the Cape.
Where are we traveling?
Walker BaySouth Africa
Cape South Coast
The Cape South Coast is a recently designated South African wine region within the Western Cape. It lies east of the Coastal Region, where most of South Africa's wine is produced. Thanks to its proximity to the ocean, cool-climate grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc do far better here than in most other parts of the country. Sparkling wine production is also growing. Six wine districts lie within its borders: Cape Agulhas, Elgin (considered the coolest part of South Africa), Overberg, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam and Walker Bay.
The sub-regions: Overberg and Hemel-en-Aarde
Overberg is a district of the Cape South Coast and takes its name from its position relative to Cape Town, meaning "over the mountains". Overberg is a fairly recent wine appellation, as the area has traditionally been associated with apple growing and grape juice production. Altitude plays an important role in Overberg. Vineyards can reach 700 metres above sea level, giving them more hours of sunshine than estates at lower altitudes. This altitude, combined with cooling sea breezes from Walker Bay, leads to a longer ripening season, often stretching into March and April. These growing conditions produce balanced wines with complex flavours and good fresh acidity.
Hemel-en-Aarde (meaning "heaven and earth" in Afrikaans) is a wine area of Walker Bay in the Cape South Coast, about 80 kilometres south-east of Cape Town. Its closeness to the coast gives the area a distinctly maritime climate. Elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a certain Burgundian touch are its particular speciality, and its international reputation has grown considerably in recent years. The cold Benguela Current from the Antarctic, flowing up the Atlantic, brings cooling breezes to the area. This ocean influence means that average summer temperatures in Hemel-en-Aarde are markedly cooler than in regions further inland, such as Stellenbosch and Paarl. Clouds are held in by the surrounding mountains, trapping cool air and moisture in the narrow Hemel-en-Aarde valley.
The little history of the country
South Africa
The first vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really begin to take off until the arrival of French Protestants, in the 1680s, with their skills and their 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 have 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 can also be 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, strongly 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 Cinsaut 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.
All about Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024
At what temperature should Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024 be served?
Between 10 and 12 °C.
How long can Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024 be kept?
Ageing potential: 5 to 10 years, until around 2034. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024?
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay. Origin: Walker Bay, South Africa. Alcohol: 13.5%.
What to serve with Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024?
Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024 pairs well with shellfish, soft cheese, hard cheese and grilled vegetables. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.