FALSE BAY CRYSTALLINE CHARDONNAY
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Wild yeast and low yields, this punches well above its price bracket.
Coastal Region, South Africa
2025
12.5% ABV.
100% Chardonnay
75cl
£9.95
Price includes VAT
Tasting notes:
Crisp, unoaked, naturally fermented Chardonnay with purity of fruit and good depth of flavour. Extended time on the lees adds nutty and toasty notes. Intense yet delicate right through to the finish.
About the wine:
The grapes for False Bay Crystalline Chardonnay stem primarily from a single vineyard in Stellenbosch located next door to one of the region's most lauded proponents of this noble cultivar. This coastal vineyard, gives lower yields, smaller berries which maintain their own natural acidity, thus obviating the need to add acid during the winemaking process. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Langenegger. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks and then left on lees for a minimum of six months before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa.
About the producer:
An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.
Food match:
Serve with roast chicken, pasta and creamy sauce or grilled tiger prawns.
This wine is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
