2023 Pepik Chardonnay

Colour: Pale lemon-green

Aroma: Freshly cut pear and granny smith apples, lemon zest and juicy mandarin. A sense of minerality characterised by crushed pebbles, chalk and candle wax.  Underlying notes of flint and almond meal.

Palate: Fresh and lively with good length and acid drive. Flavours of citrus and stone fruit are balanced by minerality and citrus pith. The finish is long and savoury.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Winemaking: Chardonnay grapes were picked at optimal ripeness from our Relbia vineyard in early April. The grapes were gently pressed and the juice clarified, before fermenting in stainless steel tanks for 10 days. The wine was left to mature ‘sur lie’ in tank for about two months, building texture and complexity. One barrel of wild fermented Chardonnay with high levels of solids was added to the tank to add interest, and offset the fruity nature of the wine. Following maturation, clarification and stabilisation processes took place, and the wine was bottled in early September 2023.

Cellaring: The wine is ready to drink now and will evolve nicely over the next 3-5 years

Serving: A delicate, citrus driven, unoaked style of Chardonnay like our 2023 Pepik will pair nicely with freshly shucked oysters, grilled prawns, fried fish, hard cheeses like Gouda or Gruyere, or even pasta dishes like Gnocchi with sage butter sauce.

Technical: pH 3.21 / TA 7.36 / Alc. 13.3%

Release: September 2023