Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2013

14.0      This medium bodied wine has strong aromas of lime, pear, citrus and orange peal fruit. The Chardonnay of the Stellenbosch area, with the extended lees contact in the barrels, 
added complexity and mouth feel to the blend. The grapes from the Robertson Karoo soils give citrus mineral characters with a flinty finish on the palate. This style of wine
that we produce, with no malolactic fermentation in the barrel, ensures a fresh, round, crisp aftertaste with clean, strong varietal fruit.


variety : Chardonnay [ 100% Chardonnay ]
winemaker : Johan Joubert
wine of origin : Western Cape
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol  rs : 4.8 g/l  pH : 3.11  ta : 6.6 g/l  
type : White  style : Dry  body : Medium  taste : Fruity   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 750ml  closure : Cork  

AWARDS
2014 Mundus Vini International Wine Awards - Gold

in the vineyard : What was anticipated to be a relatively late ripening 2013 season, soon changed to be only one week later than 2012 vintage due to the cold growing season. The cooler February temperatures, together with the longer hanging time before picking, delivered grapes with expressive varietal fruit flavours and wines with structure and good length. Grapes were carefully selected from specific vineyards near the Stellenbosch False Bay region and blended with grapes from the Robertson Karoo Scali soils. The grapes from the Stellenbosch region came from old vines that contributed to the complexity in the wine. 50% of the Robertson fruit were picked earlier to add citrus, flinty aromas in this blend.

about the harvest:  The grapes were harvested on two different sugar levels (between 22° B - 24° B).

in the cellar :  Grapes were left in static drainers for 6 hours to extract flavour from the skins. The fermentation process was started in stainless steel tanks and fermented with the D47 and DV10 yeast strains. Halfway through fermentation at 12° B (130g/l RS) both the wines was racked and fermented further in 50% new, 30% second fill and 20% third fill French oak barrels. After the alcoholic fermentation was completed, no malolactic fermentation occurred and the wine was left on the lees for 8 months. Barrel fermentation and maturation on the lees took place in 300 liter French tight grain oak.

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