Meerlust Chardonnay

Wine information: Meerlust Estate is one of the oldest and most prestigious South African Wineries in the Stellenbosch wine region. Meerlust has a long history and the Myburgh family have been making wine at the estate for eight generations since 1756. Current owner Hannes Myburgh (who studied winemaking at Geisenheim, Germany and Chateau Lafite) continues to maintain the family tradition to the art of fine wine making. The head winemaker since 2004 is Chris Williams, who has worked at Meerlust since 1995, and has worked for Michel Rolland in France. Meerlust consists of 110 hectares of vineyards located 15 kilometers to the south of Stellenbosch and 5 kilometers away from False Bay. The Estate is ideally positioned for the production of characterful and complex wines – there are cooling ocean breezes and evening mists in the summertime which allow the grapes to ripen slowly and thereby gaining full, complex, rich and robust varietal characteristics. The soil is similar to those of Bordeaux, it is deep well-draining Hutton and Clovelly soil types (decomposing granite and clay), ideal for wine-growing offering the vines good drought resistance and conditions for producing concentrated, complex wines. 110 hectares are planted, mainly with red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. This 100% Chardonnay is picked by hand, there is partial whole bunch pressing and immediate transfer of free run to 300 liter French Oak Hogsheads. 60 % new barrels, 40 % second fill. Fermentation in oak, partial un-innoculated fermentation. Partial malo-lactic fermentation. Maturation in oak for 12 months with occasional lees stirring before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Meerlust Chardonnay has a bright, vivacious platinum hue with green tinge. Complex bouquet of lemongrass, limes lemon marangue, oatmeal, quince and expressive minerality. On the palate the wine is medium bodied but with bright acidity, flavours of lime, marzipan, creamy oak and expansive apple and pear characteristics, balanced by pure,linear mineral notes and finishing clean and long.

Food & Wine match: Try with grilled fish, white and red meat.

 
     

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