From the Source of the Chardonnay

De Wetshof

Most often, I am rather chuffed to be drinking wine of any sort but when the tasting consists solely of bubbles & Chardonnay, I am especially in my element. Even more so when it is produced by the farm first to plant Chardonnay in the country.

MCC:

• Brut 2008: 3000 bottles produced, 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Appletizer, slight apple cider vinegar, lemon curd on crack, yeast sherbet, lurking lime zest, smidge of apple cider. (*)

• Brut Rose 2008: 3000 bottles produced, 100% Pinot Noir. Cherries in apple cider, berries in balsamic reduction, sharpness, sour cherry sherbet, whiff of Cherry Coke, bubbles tickle the intestines. (*)

CHARDONNAY:

• Bon Vallon (2013): Planted on a farm called Bon Vallon – beautiful valley, unwooded, lees contact. Mango & orange juice, roast aubergine, slight boiled cabbage, toasted cashew brittle, burnt caramel popcorn, nutty crème brulee sugar, silky tulle, slightly overripe strawberries. (*)

• Finesse (2013): 1/3 1^st fill, 2/3 2^nd fill, 6 months on oak. Orange Dynajets, Super C’s, drop of peanut butter, chicken liver pate with orange & grapefruit, I’d like to eat it on crackers. (*)

• Bateleur (2011): 12 months 1^st fill French, barrel selected. Buttered kiwi croissant tart, baked peaches on puff pastry, croissant Tiramisu, slight sharpness, mouthwatering grapefruit, spicy baked orange pith. Lots of aging potential! (**)

Notes:

• Danie De Wet was the first to plant Chardonnay & Riesling in SA

• Famous for the fountain on the farm

• Family run farm

• Pieter de Wet is the winemaker currently

• Pieter started making MCC at 16 years of age

• Wines are made to age for 10 – 20 years

• Use clear bottles to show the colour of the wine – bottles are kept in the cellar so light exposure is limited

• “You should play with it more often”

• Bateleur – Danie visited France & was chosen to plant Chardonnay

• Brought the vines into the country illegally

• First vintage won Best Wine in the world

• 28 year old vines, single vineyard

• The Eagle (Bateleur) – fierce but elegant