Winemaker Notes
The wine shows bright straw yellow colours with golden highlights and ample aromas in scents that recall tropical fruits and grapefruit, mingling with hints of oatmeal, caramel and nutmeg. Medium-bodied with richly complex fruit flavors.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Opening with a rich and full nose, the 2017 Chardonnay wafts of oak spices, pineapples and pears with an expressive floral essence and aromas of orange zest in the glass. The medium to full-bodied palate is round and structured with generous flavors of creamed corn and sweet lemon preserves on the finish with an elegant focus. This Chardonnay is sure to please the crowd.
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Wine Enthusiast
Light gold in color, aromas of cedar-grilled peach, apple pie, baking spice and a touch of caramel waft from the glass. It’s rich and full in feel, with a pronounced toasty overlay that appropriately complements the ripe apple and pear tones on the palate, while ample acidity provides the support and overall balance. The finish is long and warming, with a lovely spicy impression that lingers.
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Wine Spectator
Shows some weight, featuring charming toast augmented by ripe nectarine and lime blossom flavors, revealing hints of white raspberry. Very expressive and backed by lively acidity that imparts structure. The finish shows a bit of a grip, with salty accents. Drink now through 2027.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Originally named Franschhoek meaning the “French Corner” because it was home to the influx of French Huguenots, today the valley contains many historic cellars and is an important tourist location because of its proximity to Cape Town.
This valley falls to the southeast of Paarl and is enclosed on three sides by towering mountains. Streams from the slopes flow down to the valley floor, converging to form the Berg River. The area excels in the production of full-bodied reds.