This exceptional Chardonnay from Walker Bay captivates with an elegant balance of steely minerality and refined complexity. From a vineyard rich in quartz seams, it offers bright, flinty aromas with subtle layers of lemon zest, green apple, and a hint of white peach.
On the palate, the wine reveals its tension and depth, unfolding notes of crisp pear, citrus blossom, and a touch of toasted almond from carefully selected barrel aging. Its vibrant acidity and mineral backbone provide a crystalline structure, while a creamy mouthfeel adds finesse and length to the finish. Each sip showcases purity and sophistication, embodying the character of its unique terroir in every individually numbered bottle.
On the palate, the wine reveals its tension and depth, unfolding notes of crisp pear, citrus blossom, and a touch of toasted almond from carefully selected barrel aging. Its vibrant acidity and mineral backbone provide a crystalline structure, while a creamy mouthfeel adds finesse and length to the finish. Each sip showcases purity and sophistication, embodying the character of its unique terroir in every individually numbered bottle.
100% Chardonnay, a small pocket within a single vineyard. Hand-harvested, 50% spontaneous fermention in 70% second-fill and 30% new French oak barrels. Left on the lees for a further 10 months while undergoing malolactic fermentation. Bottled without fining nor filtration. Only 6520 bottles produced.
Winemaker: Jean-Claude Martin
Winemaker: Jean-Claude Martin
When in 2002 Jean-Claude (JC) and Carolyn Martin took up the challenge of establishing a winery in a remote corner of the Walker Bay Wine Region, they did so with the courage of their conviction. The 40 hectares of undulating land on the lofty Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge had never been planted to vines before, but recognising the vast potential, they set out with tenacity and determination to transform it into a model wine farm. No easy feat, but then the Swiss-born JC and South African-born Carolyn (née Finlayson) both come from wine pioneering stock spanning at least three generations and two continents!
