Winemaker Notes
This single-vineyard Chardonnay showcases a spectrum of flavors framed by elegance and complexity, hallmarks of a classic Chardonnay. Citrus and pear-drop notes are enhanced by a subtle nuttiness, finishing with refined citrus. Elegantly muscular, Bateleur pairs beautifully with leg of lamb, other roasted red meats, and select cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Showing a slightly exotic side with passion fruit and mild spice, the De Wetshof Estate 2023 Robertson Bateleur Chardonnay reveals layers of yellow rose potpourri, candle wax and natural rubber. With time, the wine's spicy element increasingly comes to the surface with cumin and nutmeg. You have to give this Chardonnay thumbs up for complexity. This is one of South Africa's oldest Chardonnay vineyards, planted in 1987 with material imported from Burgundy. It measures 3.51 hectares and counts exactly 13,668 vines. This limited 2,600-bottle production spends 12 months in barrel.
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Decanter
Restrained, with delicate stone fruit and whitecurrants. Textural and focused, with a cool mouthfeel. Subtle oak adds richness. Lees, toast and yellow fruit. Elegant, with good length and classic Chardonnay character.
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James Suckling
Apple crumble, peaches, grapefruit and buttercream on the nose, followed by a creamy and full-bodied palate. Supple and persistent, with light hazelnut character at the end.
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Wine Spectator
A lithe, elegant white, with a racy spine of acidity married to flavors of Honeycrisp apple, crunchy white peach, toasted almond and ginger biscuit. Shows good length, with a touch of chalky minerality on the finish. Drink now through 2033. 14 cases imported.
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.
Within the Breede River Valley in South Africa, Robertson is a warm and dry winegrowing region notable for its white wines. The region is home to an increasing number of estates and cooperatives.