Winemaker Notes
On the nose, this wine shows great citrus aspects and winter melon notes with some light toasted brioche in the background. Tangerine fruit and citrus blossom fragrances are apparent, with hints of vanilla pod and almond flakes. These characteristics follow through onto the palate. The fine, fresh acidity is natural and adds poise and focus to the wine.
For pairing, fish, poultry, pork, and game bird dishes all pair superbly. It works particularly well with creamy pasta and salmon dishes. Mussel soup is a perfect match. The good acidity and balance of wood and fruit keep the wine from being overly rich and, consequently, it's great without food, too.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The oak-aged Paul Clüver 2021 Elgin Estate Chardonnay is a beautifully textured mid-weight wine with a smooth entry to the palate followed by soft tones of lemon preserves, Sicilian candied fruit and almond paste. The citrusy side of the wine is most prominent and is further reinforced by the balanced acidity achieved here. This is a very satisfying expression of Chardonnay.
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Vinous
The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is a significant level up from the Village Chardonnay with far more delineation and complexity. It offers light scents of tangerine, red apples and hazelnuts, which expand nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with Clementine, mango and pineapple notes. It is very tropical in style, though the acidity counterbalances its generosity, and it has an open-hearted finish that just wishes to please the senses.
Within this unique environment exists virgin land some 400-500m above sea level with a variety of soils, aspects and microclimates. The high, cool Elgin Mountain plateau, with its close proximity to the sea and protection by the mountins, is idealy situated for the production of premium varietal wines. this provides the ideal environment for slower ripening grapes of finess and delicacy that characterise Paul Cluver Wines.
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.
This high-elevation, cool-climate district, nestled into the ancient sandstone Hottentots Holland Mountains, traditionally was apple orchard land. Today Elgin is also a source of exceptional Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir.