Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2022

Kleur: helder goudgeel
Geur: complex, limoen, passiebloem, fynbos, witte perzik, rijpe peer, rokerig, vanille.
Smaak:  Volle, elegante en goed uitgebalanceerde wijn met een kruidige, mineralige smaak. Aantrekkelijke hazelnoot met een complexe afdronk.
Houdbaar: vrijwel op dronk, gemaakt om goed te ouderen, minimaal tot 2032
Lekker bij: gebakken tarbot met beure blanc, tong, eggs Hemingway, kalfsvlees, risotto met paddenstoelen, Brie, Époisses of Chaource

Tasting Note:
The 2022 Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay shows inviting aromas of yellow grapefruit and crushed lime with superlative flinty and white peach characters, which are directly due to the beneficial impact of the maritime climate on its terroir. The palate rewards with a lush and textured mouthfeel, exuding sun-kissed tangerine and Anjou-pear, which in turn leads to a poised finale with a touch of salinity. Best served at 10-12°C, this wine will show excellent when decanted and will reward if cellared optimally for 10 to 15 years.

Source of Grapes: Sourced from a parcel of Chardonnay planted in deep loam rich soils of Helderberg Mountain.

Yields:  5 tons/ha = 34HL/ha

Winemaking: Once the grapes were whole-bunch pressed, the juice was allowed to settle overnight. The aerated must was then racked to barrel for the spontaneous primary and malolactic fermentation processes to complete, which lasted for just over sixty days. After spending a year on its primary lees, the wine was racked and blended before its final maturation.
This Chardonnay was aged for 12 months in 225L tight grain French oak barrels, of which a third were new, followed by an additional eleven months after racking at the end of the first year.

Robert Parker 96/100
The Leeu Passant 2022 Stellenbosch Chardonnay comes from 1.2-hectares of vines planted at 400 meters in elevation on the Helderberg Mountain, only four kilometers from False Bay. You can see the ocean from this site, and the area is prone to marine winds that blow all summer long to keep these 35-year-old vines healthy. Stellenbosch is where you want to go for cool-climate Chardonnay. The area is dry farmed, and summer temperatures do not exceed 27 degrees Celsius. These conditions help to retain the natural acidity of Chardonnay, as do iron-rich koffie klip soils. Vintner Andrea Mullineux says Chardonnay and oxygen work well together, and the manner in which this grape reacts to oak is harmonious and beautiful. Her job as winemaker is to make those connections. After a slow and long fermentation, this organic wine lives in blonde barrel for 22 months. Thirty percent of the oak is new. This gorgeous Chardonnay delivers a seamless quality with pastry cream, orchard fruit and sweet spice. What stands out most, however, is the careful balance of the fruit weight, which is caressing and rich but also lifted thanks to high-pitched minerality.

Tim Atkin 96/100
Demonstrating that Stellenbosch Chardonnay is up there with the very best from South Africa, this thrilling white uses fruit from a single vineyard at 400 metres that’s just four kilometres from the sea. Flavours of lime, cashew and lemon butter are framed by one-third new oak and complemented by chiselled, palate-tingling acidity. 2023-28

Platter’s 94/100 ****(*)
From cool Helderberg Mountain slope with view of False Bay, only wine where climate more influential than soil, Mullineuxs say. 2022 Granny Smith apple, oatmeal & toasted hazelnut allures, all slowly unfurling with subtle vanilla & perfect acid backbone. Focused, mineral finish. Like 2021 (5 stars, 95 pts), 30% new oak, year. Also in 1.5L, as Cabernet, Cinsault & Leeu Passant.