Sans Barrique Chardonnay

Another versatile offering, equally suitable with appetisers or main course. Works exceptionally well with creamy mushroom pastries, goat’s cheese or a smooth vegetable soup. Delightful with simply grilled or poached fish with butter and parsley or with moules marinière.

One of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by great fold mountains and breath-taking ocean views it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. The vineyards are surrounded by an indigenous floral conservancy alive with birdsong and wildflowers. Beyond the beauty of the farm itself you can discover the enchantments of the local area. Some of the popular attractions of nearby Hermanus include whale-watching; shark-cage diving; mountain hiking or biking; browsing art antiques and shops; and of course the white sandy beaches.

Good rainfall was received during winter, but unfortunately wet conditions continued into the growing season - the cumulative summer precipitation nearly equaling the annual average. On Heritage weekend of 24 September 2023, historic maximum rainfall data was revised when a massive 196mm event caused devastating flooding and landslides across the region. Wet and windy conditions prevailed during flower, reducing yields on most cultivars. Fortunately, the inclement weather dissipated before the onset of the harvest, allowing ripeness to progress unhindered on the small, concentrated crop. Picking started in the second week of February, but in a very congested fashion, as ripening of various cultivars converged towards the first week of March.

A major contributor to the success of this wine, lies in the origin of the fruit. The hillside Overberg vineyard is situated 700m above sea-level and produce bunches with small concentrated berries, responsible for the wine's typical spicy richness. Fermented at low temperature in stainless steel and matured without any oak contact. A small amount of Hemel-en- Aarde Valley Chardonnay was added to broaden the fruit profile.