Stellenrust Chardonnay 'Wild Yeast' Barrel Fermented 2012

The nose shows ripe citrus fruit with some toasted almond. The palate more concentrated with stronger nut flavours, some peach notes, but also a lingering mineral finish to it. Well judged oak preserves a butterscotch palate and promote a zesty acidity.

This Chardonnay will compliment spicy Thai grill vegetables or even well matured cheeses.

variety : Chardonnay [ 100% Chardonnay ]
winemaker : Tertius Boshoff
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 13.0 % vol  rs : 3.7 g/l  pH : 3.3  ta : 7.3 g/l  
type : White  style : Dry   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 0  closure : Cork  

AWARDS
2013 International Wine and Spirit Competition - Silver Outstanding

ageing : The wine has zesty acidity for graceful bottle ageing.

in the vineyard : Out of all the vineyards we own, these come from our highest altitude soil and only limestone vineyards. The focus is placed on how minerality from limestone can play the main role in the theatre of fruit and oak.

The grapes come from trellised vines from our Bottelary property.

about the harvest: Chardonnay grapes are harvested at between 22 to 23° Balling.

in the cellar : The grapes are crushed and the juice allowed skin contact for up to 8 hours without any sulphur additions.  The hyperoxygenated juice is then taken to barrels without proper settling and allowed to ferment with wild yeasts. Fermentation can take up to 3 months to finish and the wine is often stirred to lift the lees after fermentation has completed.

The Chardonnay spends a total of 12 months in French barrels (30% new) on its gross lees giving the yeast cells chance to undergo autolysis to release more flavour and richness into the wine.  

Time spent on lees: 12 months in barrel on fermentation lees

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