Kershaw Wines Ziggurat Chardonnay 2023 CWG (fles)

The grapes are sourced from a block in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Made only from clone CY548 typical for giving stony, meaty and robust flavours. Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, the wine undergoes a wild ferment, 12 months in Burgundy-coopered barrels and is assessed every eight weeks. Its low sulphites allow it to be designated a natural wine, yet it has the extract and low pH to age over the medium term.

Tasting Notes: A mid-lemon hue with prominent ripe orange and tangerine notes enveloped in distinct oaky spices with a floral twist. Slowly, the wine reveals more citrus and stewed peach, which add allure. The palate is penetrating with remarkable purity and focus. There’s an impressive depth to the mid-palate, supported by a line of horizontal bracing acidity that adds structure. A more linear style, the wine has intensity and precision with flavours of peach, lemon, smashed almond and cashew nut with a lighter oak influence. Its long and precise finish is characterized by a chiselled elegance, and the wine closes with a juicy and impactful impression reminiscent of stewed quince. It will reward cellaring. Ready for drinking from 2026 to 2030.

Winemaker: Richard Kershaw

WineMag 94/100
W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Flinty reduction before peach, citrus, vanilla and spice on the nose while the palate has a dense core of fruit, racy acidity and a saline finish. A wine that combines power with precision. Alc: 13.6%.