Chardonnay Unoaked 2023

Originating from the Coastal Region of South Africa, this Chardonnay comes from vineyards influenced by the oceanic freshness that tempers the sunny summers of the Cape. The vines are primarily situated on varied soils of decomposed granite and slate, providing excellent drainage and balanced grape ripening. The plots are scattered around the coastal areas, benefiting from regular sea breezes that preserve the tension and energy of the fruit, while allowing the Chardonnay grape to express beautiful purity and great aromatic precision.

The Chardonnay grapes are hand-harvested and then gently pressed as whole bunches. The must is then cold-settled before being transferred to stainless steel tanks for low-temperature fermentation with selected yeasts, in order to preserve the aromatic purity and natural freshness of the grape variety. The wine is then aged for several months in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees, without any oak barrel aging, to maintain a clean, vibrant, and fruity profile, characteristic of the estate's unoaked style.

This wine reveals notes of crisp green apple , juicy pear , and zesty citrus , complemented by discreet hints of white flowers and a subtly mineral nuance. The palate is driven by a lively acidity that lengthens the aromatic profile, with a clean and precise structure, free from oak influence, highlighting the purity of the fruit. The texture remains light to medium, refreshing, with a crisp, saline finish that prolongs the flavors and invites further tasting.

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.