Julien Schaal Evidence Chardonnay 2023

Kleur: helder goudgeel
Geur: krachtige neus met daarin rijp citrusfruit, tropisch fruit zoals perzik. Mandarijn, fijne vanille en tikje honing
Smaak: fijne zuren, romige structuur en een lange afdronk met daarin vanille en rijp geel fruit
Houdbaar: op dronk, gemaakt om goed te ouderen, minimaal tot 2030
Lekker bij: gebakken tarbot met beurre blanc, kabeljauw me romige saus, eggs Hemingway, vegetarische curry.

The background
A wine born of our passion for this region; in this cuvée we try to express what we most admire in Elgin Chardonnay. Here the natural winemaking process and only very gentle oak-aging allow us to create a wine that is genuinely faithful to its terroir.

A Single Vineyard
The vines here are probably the oldest in the appellation and they yield fine, concentrated grapes. The Elgin, the ‘Cape’s coolest’, climate helps to conserve a fine natural acidity. The soil is a very stony red clay. The gentle, north-facing slope of the vineyard aides the long and even ripening-process. This region has a unique climate and topography, consisting of an upland basin plateau, surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides.

Cellar
The grapes are picked by hand at the coolest time of the day. After a gentle pressing, and a stating setting, the juice goes to 300 litres barrels, some new. Long fermentation allow the wine to show all its potential. The wine then is aged­­­ a minimum of 12 months in wood.

Platter’s ****(*) 91/100
More sophisticated & better balanced in 2022 than sibling, extra barrel-ageing partly buffing the seriously feisty acidity, hallmark of Elgin’s cooler climate. Tangy lime & citrus peel on subtle hazelnut cream base from year in oak, 20% new, & natural ferment (as all the wines). Deserves a dinner date & some ageing.