Chardonnay, Vrede, Hemel en Aarde, 2021
Typically the more giving of the two Chardonnays, Vrede offers ripe orchard fruits, citrus and a trace of white honey, complimenting a touch of soft nectarine. Tensile and fine and a lovely fruit driven Chardonnay carried at just 12.5% alcohol. Vrede Chardonnay – or Peace Chardonnay – hails from a northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 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 2021 Chardonnay Vrede, from vines planted in 2006 that are sensitive to temperature and drought, was cropped at just 1.6 tons/hectare. This is basket pressed and matured in 25% new oak with full malo. It has an attractive nose with scents of Golden Delicious, pear and light lemon verbena scents. The palate is well balanced with good depth, quite a concentrated Chardonnay with nice acidity. Buoyed by ample freshness, this is a superb and delicious wine that will be difficult to resist in its youth. Superb.