De Wetshof Estate Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2019

Description

Heavy clay soils rich in limestone allow this Chardonnay to emit optimum varietal expression in a cloak of rich complexity. An un-wooded wine, Limestone Hill has notes of grapefruit and nuts, with the complexity balanced by a nuanced elegance ending with a delicate ripeness.The American critic Robert Parker describes this wine as such: “The De Wetshof Estate Limestone Hill Chardonnay never sees oak, and offers impeccably pure, refreshing apple, peach and lemon fruit, a lovely leesy richness of texture, and a nutty, chalky, fruit-filled finish of imposing length. Understated and less tropical than some of the better un-oaked Chardonnays, this wine possesses far better balance and sheer drinkability – not to mention more finesse – than 99% of the world’s Chardonnay I have experienced.”

Awards

Silver Veritas

89 pts Tim Atkin

Bronze International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)

Vinification

About The Harvest

The grapes are picked in the coolness of morning, with the emphasis on capturing the natural complexities of the Chardonnay grape immediately for the making of this un-wooded wine.  

In The Cellar Once de-stemming, pressing and overnight settling are complete, the juice is racked-off from the sediment and pumped into stainless steel tanks for the alcohol fermentation. After fermentation, the wine is left on the lees under controlled temperatures. Weekly stirring of the lees ensures maximum flavours are released into the wine until the wines are ready for bottling.

Tank maturation on thin lees 4 months

Vineyard

Robertson

Viticulture

Vineyard InformationAge of the vines 7 - 21 yearsVines per hectare 4000 and 4500Rootstock Richter 99 and Richter 110Planting row 2,4m x 1m and 1,83m X 1,2mSoil pH 7,8 – 8,5Trellising style 6 wire fence system cordon with spur pruning.Yield 5 – 8 tons per hectare

Food Pairing

Butter Curry Chicken Gnocchi with Sage Butter Salmon