St Leger Chardonnay Cape of Good Hope South Africa

CHARDONNAY

St Leger Chardonnay is reminicent of the timeless elegance of Burgundy. Sourced from select cool-climate parcels in Elgin, the fruit is gently barrel-fermented and matured with care in terracotta amphorae and French oak.

Crafted only in exceptional years, this refined wine reveals layered complexity and purity while allowing the pure aromatics and character of the grapes to shine.

  • OVERVIEW
    The winter of 2021 was slightly colder and wetter than both the winters of 2019 and 2020. The wet and cool soils delayed budburst slightly. Spring came slightly later than normal with very little wind that helped during flowering and set to optimise maximum berries per vine. The ripening season was dry, above average cloud cover and 1 – 2 degrees colder than average. This resulted in slower ripening and higher natural acidity.

    IN THE VINEYARD
    Three things were taken into consideration when this Chardonnay site was selected; 1) The Elgin winegrowing region. Probably the best area in South Africa to grow Chardonnay with cold winters and big differences in day/night temperatures during the summer, resulting in slow even ripening of flavours; 2) The soil for this vineyard sits low down in the Elgin valley with a mixture of Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS) and shale soils with high clay content. This combination of soils typically results in wines with concentration of fruit with underlying mineral flavours; 3) The clone CY96 were pick for the very specific flavour profile that get produced under the aforementioned conditions.

    Picking dates were decided mostly on taste, but an eye is also kept on the vineyard condition, drop in acidity and incoming weather patterns.

    FERMENTATION
    The grapes were whole-bunch pressed in a basket press, settled overnight and fermented in a combination of new French oak barrels and clay amphora. One third of the wine was fermented with natural wild yeast from the vineyard.

    MATURATION & BOTTLING
    After malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured for a total of 12 months in barrel and amphora. After maturation, a blend was made from the three components and given a light filtration before bottling.

    TASTING NOTES
    The wine has a complex nose with spring flowers, orange peel, dried rose petals, orange blossom, and jasmine; supported by notes of vanilla bean and clove spices. The creamy, rich palate entry gives way to a full-bodied, intense midpalate with great weight. This is a balanced, powerful wine with a well-integrated acidity that will be rewarded by extended cellaring.

    SERVING TEMPERATURE
    13°C

    SPECIFICATIONS
    Alcohol content: 13.10%
    Total acidity: 5.70 g/l; pH: 3.43;
    Residual sugar: 2.3 g/l

    CULTIVAR
    Chardonnay

    WINE OF ORIGIN
    Elgin, South Africa

    HARVEST DATE
    08 March 2022

     

  • OVERVIEW
    The 2024 vintage in Elgin began two weeks later than usual due to a cooler spring. A dry February reduced disease pressure, while careful canopy management was required during January heat spikes. Yields were ~20% lower, resulting in compact berries with heightened concentration. Cool ripening preserved natural acidity and tight pH, setting the stage for a structured, age-worthy wine

    IN THE VINEYARD
    Three things were taken into consideration when this Chardonnay site was selected; 1) The Elgin winegrowing region. Probably the best area in South Africa to grow Chardonnay with cold winters and big differences in day/night temperatures during the summer, resulting in slow even ripening of flavours; 2) The soil for this vineyard sits low down in the Elgin valley with a mixture of Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS) and shale soils with high clay content. This combination of soils typically results in wines with concentration of fruit with underlying mineral flavours; 3) The clone CY96 were pick for the very specific flavour profile that get produced under the aforementioned conditions.

    Picking dates were decided mostly on taste, but an eye is also kept on the vineyard condition, drop in acidity and incoming weather patterns.

    FERMENTATION
    The grapes were whole-bunch pressed in a basket press, settled overnight and fermented in a combination of new French oak barrels and clay amphora. One third of the wine was fermented with natural wild yeast from the vineyard.

    MATURATION & BOTTLING
    After malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured for a total of 12 months in barrel and amphora. After maturation, a blend was made from the three components and given a light filtration before bottling.

    TASTING NOTES
    Elegant and expressive. The nose reveals spring flowers, orange blossom, jasmine, and dried rose petals, layered with orange peel and a touch of vanilla bean. The palate is creamy and textured, evolving into a full-bodied core with great depth. A vibrant acidity carries the wine to a long, poised finish.

    SERVING TEMPERATURE
    13°C

    SPECIFICATIONS
    Alcohol content: 12.81%
    Total acidity: 6.1 g/l; pH: 3.33;
    Residual sugar: 1.8 g/l

    CULTIVAR
    Chardonnay

    WINE OF ORIGIN
    Elgin, South Africa

    HARVEST DATE
    08 March 2022

St Leger wines Cape of Good Hope South Africa
St Leger Chardonnay Constantia
St Leger Chardonnay South Africa