Lothian Vineyard 2019 Selection Chardonnay
Drinking: 2022 – 2026. Full bottle 1,439 g. Screwcap.
17 Points
Clones CY76, 95 and 584, planted in 2005 on Table Mountain sandstone. Hand-picked early March, from six south- and east-facing blocks. 280 meters above sea level. Whole-bunch pressed with a period of skin contact. Fermentation was started in stainless steel with ambient yeast. The fermenting juice was racked into a selection of French barriques, followed by a period of bâtonnage. 1i months of oak barrel maturation on the fine lees, lightly filtered, 12 months in bottle. RS 3.2 g/l, TA 5.9 g/l, pH 3.38.
“Creamy citrus nose, just a little peppery, some green spice, an almost invisible trace of smoke. Open and creamy to begin with but building tension into controlled poise. Lemon-powder-dusted apricots, dry bay leaf, a very subtle (and elegantly expressed) note of vanilla pod. This has both supple flesh and fine bone structure. Marble-cut definition without losing any of that beautiful South African coastal fruit. This is very good.”
– JANCISROBINSON.COM
