Chardonnay, Ridge, Hemel en Aarde, 2024
Floral and citrusy with a tangerine and fresh peach finish. Silky and polished but moreish too. The whites are pressed quite hard to add a little grip to the wine, ensuring they are not too sweet and easy. A delicious, low alcohol Chardonnay that delivers from the off. Ridge Chardonnay comes from a high-density vineyard on a cool, eastern slope on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. Ageing took place 25% new French barrique over 11 months. Since 2022, all wines are closed with DIAM corks.
critic reviews
The 2024 Chardonnay Ridge went three-quarters through malo this year and was raised in 27% new oak for 11 months. This has a lovely bouquet with light yellow plum and honeysuckle scents that unfurl in the glass, just a little richer in style than previous vintages. The palate is rounded in texture, a tad more sucrosity than cooler vintages, yet the acidity maintains freshness (the natural partial malo was beneficial to give more malic). Nicely composed on the finish. Enjoy over the next decade.