Boekenhoutskloof

The grapes for this lightly-wooded Chardonnay came from Robertson. The wine was partially fermented and matured in mostly second-fill oak barrels. One third of the wine was fermented in stainless steel and blended in to ensure freshness and to retain the zippy citrusy flavour so typical of Chardonnay.

Plums, cherries and mulberries on the nose with hints of warm baking spices. The palate has a juicy fruit core and good concentration with velvety tannins and some oak complexity. The finish is long, smooth and pleasantly dry.

The nose is rich and complex with aromas of youngberry, mulberry, damson and wild strawberry and gentle whiffs of smoke and sweet spice. The palate is very refined and polished, with the ripe red fruits of the nose following through with a delicate garrigue character and a smooth texture. Notes of lavender and thyme, precision and finesse on the mid-palate and very fine-grained, powdery tannins make for a very classic Cabernet. The wine is medium-bodied, structured, focused and balanced, with attractive, refreshing acidity. Black fruit, aniseed, cloves, pipe tobacco and cardamon, linger on the finish with hints of graphite.