Meerlust Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2023

Description

Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the dedication to quality winemaking continues under the guidance of 8th generation, Hannes Myburgh. Cellar Master, Chris Williams, who has worked on the estate since 1995 has overseen winemaking since 2004. The name Meerlust means “pleasure of the sea”, as the property is situated 5km from False Bay (and 15km south of Stellenbosch), with the cooling influence of the coast, allowing the grapes ripen slowly.

Sourced from 4 vineyards on the Estate situated on well drained Oakleaf, Dundee and Swartland soil types which produces the rich textured mouth feel and minerality. The younger vineyards were planted in 2007 on Cartref soils giving a greater fruit expression. The vineyards are mostly south facing towards the cool Atlantic of False Bay. Crop thinning occurred at pruning and at veraison. Six separate picking stages at optimum ripeness to ensure complexity and balance. Hand- picked, partial whole bunch pressing and static settling overnight. Some solids remained in the juice. Transferred to 40% new tight grain Allier French Oak and 60% second fill 300 litre barrels for fermentation.  Half of the barrels were inoculated with selected Chardonnay yeast, while the other half underwent un-inoculated, spontaneous fermentation.  After fermentation, the wine was given a racking to remove heavy lees and returned to barrel for malo-lactic fermentation. The wine was barrel matured for 9 months before bottling.

Very bright, polished platinum with green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing se with pear, citrus and floral tes developing into lemon cream, oatmeal and marzipan richness. On the palate the wine is medium bodied and linear but retains generous focused citrus fruit flavours with sleek, balanced and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit and stony minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish.

This has a pale golden colour, and an intense nose of fresh brioche, and toasted bread, along with cloves, nutmeg and fine vanilla bean. The palate is full-bodied and round with spiced mango and pineapple flavours, along with ripe apricots, vanilla, baking spice. All is well-balanced by a mouth-watering acidity, and there is texture and an almost saline minerality. A well-made oaked Chardonnay, not at all like biting on wood, it's classy!.