Winemaker Notes
Soils rich in limestone and broken mountain rock on De Wetshof's site-specific vineyards allow this wine to emit optimum varietal expression. An unwooded wine, Bon Vallon has a brisk and clean freshness leading into a wide spectrum of classic flavors including citrus, wild flowers and grilled nuts, with a nuanced minerality on the aftertaste.
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a balanced and successful vintage, the De Wetshof Estate 2025 Robertson Bon Vallon Chardonnay is regarded as South Africa’s first unoaked Chardonnay and remains one of the estate’s purest limestone expressions. Fermented and matured on the lees for 100 to 120 days with regular lees suspension, it builds quiet depth and layered texture, showing orchard fruit, saline notes and a subtle nuance of petrichor through the mid-palate. The vineyards sit 250 meters above sea level on rocky limestone soils that amplify freshness and mineral clarity.
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James Suckling
Sliced apples, blanched almonds and peaches on the nose, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, juicy palate. Creamy, soft finish. Sustainable.
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.