Terroir-istes Local - Cool Climate Chardonnay

A look at cooler climate Chardonnays from around the Cape

• 2010 Ataraxia Chardonnay 91 Points

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  (Tasted Blind): Mid yellow to gold in colour with a bouquet of walnut, spice, yellow peach and a cooling note. sitting nicely with its age.
  Fairly tight brisk acidity, the wine is clean and precise with notes of mineral, chopped stones and lemon zest. There is some flesh to the mid-palate and touch of hint of melted butter and crushed nuts on the long finish. Very good wine with complexity, there was a touch of green suggesting some earlier picked fruit in the mix yet countered with a leesyness.Closed with some grapefruit pithiness.

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• 2010 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 89 Points

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  (Tasted Blind): Mid golden colour with a bouquet that is ripe and direct with praline, orange, macaroon, melted butter, canned corn and clotted cream
  The palate is ripe and broad with a richer texture, suggesting a warmer clime, yet it has a certain focus and lively acidity. The mid-palate opened with more savoury elements, crushed nuts, lactic notes from MLF and some stone fruits. Certainly a wider girth with a little boldness the wine has a good length in the mouth and leans more to power than elegance, with a mouthcoating element on the back palate. Pretty good.

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• 2009 Edgebaston Chardonnay Cape Winemakers Guild Tete du Ciel 91 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  (Tasted Blind): It is light yellow in colour; the nose is simple, with a hint of dishcloth at first. a very light brush of oak with a touch of honey and peach. The palate features plenty of brisk acidity, some underlying ripeness and richness, savoury elements, and hints of cream with an oatmeal texture.

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• 2009 Jordan Winery (Jardin) Chardonnay Nine Yards 88 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  (Tasted Blind): The bouquet is light gold in colour, with softened nuts and spicy oak that reminds me of François Frères barrels and a hint of furfural. Some stone fruit peek out and it is fairly intense and expressive. The palate shows more evolution with warmer nectarine and grilled peach, fleshy texture, and some depth, with still toasty oak notes from some butter and sweet spices. A tad phenolic on the back palate shortens the finish.

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• 2009 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 87 Points

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  (Tasted Blind): Mid+ gold to brass. Evolved nose with elements of sotolon.
  The palate is quite saline with a fatter mid-palate but the lively acid seems a little ajar, making it appear plump and sluggish. Sinewy with orange segments and mineral/limestone grip without much charm and finishes with an acid kick.

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• 2008 Cape Point Vineyards Chardonnay Flawed

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Point

  (Tasted Blind): Deep gold colour, the nose reveals significant ageing and oxidation. There are just some old nutty flavours on the palate and little else, showing that the wine has seen better days.

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• 2010 Klein Constantia Chardonnay 85 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia

  (Tasted Blind): Mid yellow colour. Light dishcloth note at first before showing nut and yellow nectarine and blue cheese. Not a great nose!
  The palate has a fresh acidity and a good grip, with concentrated, fleshier fruit showing as ripe cling peach, sultana, and nectarine. It felt like a warmer climate, with less minerality and definition and more breadth and weight. It finishes better but lacks excitement.

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• 2005 Uva Mira Chardonnay Single Vineyard 91 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  (Tasted Blind): Light to Mid gold towards some light brown edges.
  Lovely, intense aromas of oatmeal, mint, and farm butter. I found it had ripeness but a citrus quality, and this translated into the palate, which has a vibrant acidity backed by ripe orange, light tropical, mint chocolate, butter, and some creamed honey.
  There is concentration and a grip in the mid-palate with that oatmeal texture and a long penetrating finish. Ageing well!

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