variety : Chardonnay [ 100% Chardonnay ]
winemaker : Estelle Lourens
wine of origin :
analysis : alc : 13.25 % vol rs : 4.1 g/l pH : 3.25 ta : 7.3 g/l
type : White style : Dry taste : Fruity
pack : Bottle size : 0 closure : Cork
in the vineyard : Uitkyk Estate is 600ha with 150ha under vines. Other cultivars planted on the estate are Chardonnay, Sémillon, Chenin blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage, Sangiovese, Mourvédre, Petit Verdot and Pinot noir. During the 2013 vintage 1010 tons were harvested at the cellar. The grapes were harvested from mid-February at 23–24°B. Minimal skin contact has been allowed and only the free-run juice was used. The fermentation was started with pure yeast cultures and soon afterwards transferred to wood. The fermentation finished after 8 days and the wine was left on the lees for a period of 8.5 months in 31% new oak, 39% second fill and 30% third fill French oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation took place. During the maturation period the lees has been stirred every 2 weeks. Bottling took place in November 2013.
in the cellar : The grapes used to craft this wine came from a single vineyard situated at 270 meters above sea level and facing due south. The vines, which are 18 years old, are grafted onto nematode-resistant Richter 110 rootstocks and are grown in soils originating from decomposed granite. They are trellised on a seven-wire system and received supplementary irrigation during the growing season. The yield was 6.5 tons per hectare; the restriction further enhancing the quality and complexity of the fruit.