2022 False Bay On Borrowed Time Chardonnay

Sited high on The Helderberg is a small block of mature vines, just 1.25 hectares, planted back in 1999. This rare little block sits just 8km from False Bay on a steep, elevated and cooler South-Westerly slope. Soils are stony and well-drained and therefore low-vigour. The yield is a miniscule 12 hectolitres/hectare. However, good things really do often come in small packages and the up-side here is healthy grapes with excellent, balanced concentration and a wonderful natural acidity. The winemaking approach is natural and simple, yet also rigorous and labour-intensive. Handpicked and hand sorted. Delicately whole-bunch pressed in a horizontal basket-press for purest juice. Fermented with wild yeast in 2nd fill French oak barrels. Bottling without fining and only the lightest of filtrations. Minimal SO2 added with no further additions. 1800 bottles made.

Bright straw with green tinges. Notes of honeysuckle, verbena and passion fruit and subtle oak on the nose. A rich and well-structured wine with a rounded palate lifted by fresh acidity.