Chardonnay Tweet up in Elgin (2016)
Elgin
Tasted Wednesday, October 26, 2016 by rikipedia with 51 views
Introduction
A Blind tasting of all the Elgin Chardonnay - well, all that were submitted. Not Flighted. Interesting fact: 1.15% of Chardonnay grapes in South Africa are produced in Elgin.
2011 Oneiric Chardonnay 84 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) A light golden hue indicates some maturity. A slight dishcloth note obscures the wine at first before revealing leesy aromas of oat flakes, vanilla, and butter. Older barrels with a touch of lemon. The palate reflects, in particular, with pronounced leesy characteristics, giving a creamy texture. Lively acidity helps push this medium-bodied wine forward, but it is aging rapidly and lacks the vibrancy expected from a Chardonnay of this vintage. The finish is short and somewhat flat.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2014 Hannay Chardonnay 89 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) A medium yellow-straw colour suggests moderate maturity. Aromas of brioche, oatmeal, and nuts meld with some lemony qualities. The wine has a creamy texture, soft, and a lively acid thread. It is long and satisfying, if not that compelling.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2014 Thelema Chardonnay Sutherland 86 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Deep yellow in colour with a struck match character enhanced by croissant pastry, spicy oak and crushed nuts before some Gala apple and white nectarine arrive. A leesy entry with a firm crisp acidity giving restraint and a mineral edge, yet the fruit seems quiet, more savoury than fruity, and there is a brioche quality reminiscent of a still Champagne - early-picked grapes? The finish tapers off - some richness, but doesn’t leave a strong fruit-driven impression.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Vrede en Lust Chardonnay Marguerite 88 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl, Simonsberg-Paarl
(Tasted Blind) Pale youthful yellow with subtle aromas of lemon zest and lemon curd, complemented by hints of vanilla and toasty oak. A fresh, vibrant entry with pronounced lemony notes - lemon balm. There is a touch of richness, but the wine lacks some definition as a green element that emerges on the back palate. Clean and elegant, the wine finishes quickly.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Corder Family Vineyards Chardonnay Cool Climate 85 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind): A rather quiet nose with light citrus and fine oatmeal. A tad of dishcloth to start. The entry is lemony with a slightly confected note of travel sweets but with a crisp linear acidity. A little simple and tails away quickly.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 88 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind): A medium straw colour with inviting aromas porridge oats, spice and toast smear with a notable buttery quality that suggest MLF. A warm, broad entry with crushed oats, almond and oak spice rubbing against fresh lemon and light apple to balance the wine's richness. Medium in length with a citrus tail.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Iona Chardonnay Elgin 93 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Pale lemon-yellow. The nose is lifted with fresh zesty lemon, light floral qualities and some white peach. A vibrant entry with a generous squeeze of lemon juice lead to some crushed biscuit, stone fruit and lemon meringue pie that are heightened by a mineral undertone reminiscent of alpine rock face. Long and substantial, beautifully balanced with pin-sharp definition to the fruit.
Sourced from two north-facing vineyards on the western boundary of the estate, both planted in 2003.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Highlands Road Chardonnay 83 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Mid-yellow, indicating moderate maturity. Sweet, ripe fruit aromas with a slight chloranated swimming pool element suggesting a touch of volatility. The palate is intense but with a noticeable sweetness, possibly due to residual sugar (RS: 4.4 g/L). Broad and warm but lacking much structure or acidity results in a finish that lacks precision and focus.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Oak Valley Chardonnay 87 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Light yellow with a faint dishcloth note before subtle aromas of oak and vanilla creep in with elements of lemon and Gala apple. A soft, approachable entry with a steely acid to support, clean, fresh and direct with some green apple slices but little more and with no distinct lingering flavours.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Almenkerk Chardonnay 92 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Light yellow-gold, with aromas of toast and freshly sawn wood mingle with a smear of butter and citrus. There is a notable dry entry with delicate nuances of minerals, Clementine, peach, and that lick of vanilla, giving some mid-palate richness. The wine flows gracefully, offering some complexity and lingering for a good while. It is a light to medium-bodied style with just enough acidity to work.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Paul Cluver Chardonnay 90 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) Mid-yellow-gold with pronounced oak influence matched with plenty of ripe apple, semi-dried Cretian pear and slices of loose stone peach with a lick of butter. Full-bodied, the entry is rich and supple but plays nicely off with a crisp acidity, giving spine to this bright, clear fruited wine. A dusting of baking spices, there is an apple skin texture and a plethora of orchard and stone fruit to its core with a touch of sea salt on rock. It perhaps hasn’t the depth, but it barrels on to a long finish. Very approachable.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2015 Richard Kershaw Wines Chardonnay Clonal Selection Elgin
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin
(Tasted Blind) A lifted nose of tidal pool, citrus and mineral. A little shy at first before becoming more intense on the palate with some savoury Burgundian tones and restraint with a hint of coconut and lovely extract. Long finish with some complexity. No score as conflict of interest
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No