De Wetshof, Robertson (Western Cape, South Africa) Chardonnay 2017

 This wine is made from fruit grown in one of South Africa’s oldest Chardonnay vineyards, planted in 1987.  The site offers a combination of gravel, limestone and clay soils and measures just 3.5 hectares, or about 8.5 acres.  In speaking with Johan de Wet I learned that the clones planted here were brought to South Africa from the Clos de Mouches vineyard in Beaune, Burgundy, France.  The grapes were destemmed, pressed, and the resulting juice settled overnight prior to fermentation in 100% new, blond-toasted barrels.  Following racking of coarse lees, the wine spent additional time in barrel with weekly battonage.  After a few months of less contact the wine was racked again and saw a further 12 months aging in barrel.  This wine shows a vibrant pale yellow color with a slightly green rim in the glass.  Aromas are composed of crisp Bosc pear, toasty oak, salt-air, clean button mushroom earthiness and a lactic note.  The wine is both powerful and elegant in its balance, never edging into the oak dominated nutty aromas or an overwrought oily texture.