Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay

Straw colour with hint of green – youthful and vibrant. Attractive nose showing ripe citrus and orange peel leading to hints of vanilla spice oak and toasted brioche. Citrus peel on palate with good weight and lightly buttery texture. The wine is well balanced with fresh acid and minerality persistent lemon/lime on the finish.

A terroir driven wine, the Cellar Master Series Chardonnay has a medium-plus intensity, owning its youthful and aromatic bouquet of spring blossoms, crunchy yellow apples, dried pineapple, cinnamon, ripe grapefruit, and mandarin zest. A sweeter undertone of almond skin, bay leaf and chamomile ground the fruit, adding a sophisticated, savoury sheen. A sherbet-like intensity follows through on the taste, and this vibrant acidity steers the fruit to the back of your mouth, evoking a salivating mineral quality. Then, with a savoury sheen anchoring itself on the mid-palate, the wine engulfs your palate, weaving a magical balance of sweet, sour, and salty nuances into a mouth-filling experience. As with the aromas, bright citrus takes the lead with whiffs of lemon meringue pie, almonds, and grapefruit pith, balancing creamy and nippy textures built into the wine, finished off with an old-world flintiness.

Fresh lemon peel and grapefruit skin dominate the nose and palate, and is beautifully rounded off with soft buttery notes in the background.