Meerlust Chardonnay 2023
Original price was: £24.45.£21.95Current price is: £21.95. incl. VAT
3 in stock (can be backordered)
Meerlust Chardonnay 2023 is very bright pale-yellow colour with green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing nose of apricot, peach, pear, lemon zest and floral notes with hints of toasted almonds. On the palate the wine is well structured and linear but retains generous focused stone fruit flavours with sleek, balanced, and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit underpinned by minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish.
93/100 Tim Atkin
Now sourced from parcels on shale as well as granite soils, the Meerlust Chardonnay is a lot fresher and less worked than it used to be. Sourced from six different blocks, it has apricot and citrus fruit flavours, a hint of wax and sourdough bread and subtle toasty oak. 2023-26
Blend Information
100% Chardonnay
Food Suggestions
Grilled fish, white and red meat.
In the vineyard
As with all our wines, the Chardonnay is a true expression of the Meerlust estate and illustrates
the unique climate and soil of the farm. The wine draws fruit from blocks located on two of
our four distinctive terroirs namely –
Compagniesdrift – The soils from this warm north facing slope are predominantly formed from
weathered granite. The wines originating from this granitic hilltop are expressive and bold in
structure, mainly due to the coarse gravelly texture and sufficient soil depth to promote long
and even ripening. The blocks are situated on the highest part of the estate and benefit from
cool nights and a prevailing sea breeze that passes over the blocks in the afternoon.
Quarry – The extremely rocky terrain consisting of greywacke with interbedded shales provides
a unique substrate for vines. Shallow rooted vines on this cool and windswept foot slope leads
to wines with characteristic citrus fruit with exceptional length, detail, and precision.
In the cellar
Picking of grapes were done by a team of experienced pickers ensuring optimal selection of
fruit. After pressing, juice was settled overnight and racked with some fine solids to barrel
where fermentation takes place.
A mix of 30% new, 33% second fill 300lt and 32% third fill barrels are used, and this vintage sees
the first introduction of 5% fermented in concrete tank. Fermentation is either with selected
yeast or through natural spontaneous fermentation. The wine is matured until it reaches the
desired mouth feel and complexity. After removing the wine from barrel, it undergoes a light
fining before bottling.
