Vergelegen Reserve Chardonnay 2011
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The estate has a rich and storied cultural history dating back to 1700. The philosophy at Vergelegen is simple: “To strive to produce the best possible wines by careful decision-making that maximizes the synergy between vineyard and winery.” This is accomplished through the precise selection and delicate handling of grapes, gravity flow production, infinite attention to detail and expert craftsmanship, and results in wines of elegance, refinement, complexity and balance. A part of the distinguished brand portfolio owned by the Anglo American Corporation, world renowned for precious metals industries, as well as De Beers Diamonds, Vergelegen brings wines of superlative quality and global recognition to the family.
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.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.