| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | South Africa |
| Colour | White |
| Type | Still |
The 2022 Chardonnay Ava Marie Single Vineyard is the 15th vintage to come from these 26-year-old vines, matured in 500-liter barrels (15% new), plus 10% in amphora and 10% in stainless steel. It has a potent nose that demands attention, displaying lime fruit, citrus peel and a touch of chamomile in the background. The palate is well balanced with good concentration and depth. Slightly waxy in texture, it takes a little time to cohere, but there is a lovely orange rind and dried pineapple note on the finish. Afford this two or three years in bottle...if you can resist
This chardonnay is immensely textural and mineral. Salted almonds, lemon pith, Asian pears, chamomile and salted butter follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of depth and plenty of chewy phenolics. Dry, chalky and saline. From a single vineyard planted in 1998.
After 26 years of farming it, Craig Wessels knows how to get the best out of this remarkable vineyard. Everything is aligned on his superb 2022 release, which shows a difficult-to- achieve combination of freshness and density. Oatmeal, struck match and lemongrass aromas segue into a palate of subtle baking spices, beeswax and citrus zest complemented by lees-derived texture. Bravo!
