Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2020

Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2020

Winemaking

Walker Bay earned its repertoire for outstanding Chardonnay and these vineyards are no exception. Picked at optimal ripeness, the grapes were hand sorted. Juice from 2 pressing cycles was divided into 4 batches that had different levels of exposure to oxygen and solids content with the juice going into fermentation. These 4 components were fermented and matured separately. 20% of the juice solids were not settled out and went straight into the barrel while 50% of the juice was hyper-oxidised with the balance treated reductively before the onset of fermentation. The wine was left on its lees for the entire maturation period to enhance palate texture. Earlier picking and a year known for higher acidity levels, 90% of the wine was allowed to go through secondary malolactic fermentation to enhance the richness, mouthfeel, and balance.

Tasting Notes

It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with the sumptuous aroma of this wine. Straw gold in colour, elegantly knit aromas of hazelnut, shortbread biscuit, peach and yellow apple lures you in and generously follows through on the palate. Met with a bold acidity, a gentle creaminess also envelops the palate, trailed with citrus zest, nectarine and hints of crème brûlée. The mineral structure cuts through the textured mouthfeel leaving a fresh, clean finish. This wine, packed with character, is best explained as a wine of refined complexity.

Analysis

Alcohol: 13.5 %
Residual Sugar: 2.2 g/l
Total Acidity: 6.68 g/l
pH: 3.26
Wine of Origin: Walker Bay

Personality

This wine is confident and demands attention with its balance between freshness and fullness. Apart from being beautifully balanced, the intensity, chalky texture, length, concentration, and super long finish make this a worthy competitor for the best Chardonnays of its kind.