Elgin Vintners Chardonnay

100% Chardonnay

W.O. Elgin

HARVEST The 2023 Vintage proved to be one of the most challenging of recent history. Many have described it as a Year of two harvests; before the rain and after the rain. Though we expect cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than most other wine-producing regions, the 2023 harvest was extremely challenging. The month of March (which is traditionally the busiest period during harvest) saw over 600mls of rain, falling constantly over a three-week period. The harvest literally stopped for an entire month as we waited for the later-ripening varietals to assimilate the water and ripen, before the onslaught of fungal pressure.

V I N I F I C A T I O N Thankfully, we picked the Chardonnay grapes at around 21.8 Balling, a couple of weeks before the rain was due to start. The berries were removed from the stems and lightly crushed prior to filling the press. The grapes were pressed and separated from their skins, with the subsequent juice being sent into a stainless-steel tank at 12°C. Settled over-night and then racked into 500L barrels and a 4000L oak Foudre, the juice was allowed to warm up slowly, with the natural fermentation kicking in 2 days later. The majority of the wine was fermented using only indigenous yeast (from the vineyard), except for a very small portion of the barrels requiring a yeast inoculation towards the very end just to finish off any remaining sugar. The fermentation took just over 26 days in total. The wine was then matured on the lees in the same barrels, where about 60% went through a spontaneous Malolactic Fermentation.

THE WINE This process has resulted in a medium-bodied and refreshing wine with an alcohol of 13.5% vol, offering a complex and layered wine with a bone-dry finish. Hints of apple and white-stone fruit give way to a zesty, orange-peel finish. The eight months maturation period on the lees in French Oak barrels, really compliments the body of the wine and the wood is superbly well-integrated. Only 8% new wood was used so as not to dominate the flavour and texture of the Chardonnay grape.

FOOD Though perfect to consume on its own as a refreshing thirst-quencher, this wine has enough depth and complexity to pair with a multitude of dishes including any fish or sea-food, white meats, garlic snails, cream and / or cheesy sauces, citrus-based desserts (e.g. lemon cheesecake!) or simply accompanied by good friends. I am even convinced this wine will convert the ABC Club (anything but Chardonnay).

Alcohol: 13.5% • Total acid: 5.3 • Residual sugar: 2.0 • pH: 3.54