DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2020

The grapes were hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Juice was transferred to French oak barrels with minimal settling. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels of which 30% was new. About 70% of the volume completed Malolatic fermentation during a 10-month ageing on the gross lees. The wine was bottled with minimal stabilization and clarified without filtration.

Vertical shoot positioned vineyards on weathered granite mid-slopes benefit form cool morning sunlight and moderating sea breezes off False Bay. Yields are typically low to moderate and grapes are very concentrated with good levels of natural acidity. On the back of a cold and wet winter, the 2020 growing season began very early, with homogenous budburst and even shoot growth. Summer was relatively mild, without the heatwaves often experienced in the Cape. The resultant crop retained high levels of natural acidity and abundant concentration of flavour. Particularly exceptional are the white wines of 2020, whilst the reds display early promise thanks to intense colour and tannin concentration.

10 months

100% Chardonnay

94 Points Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report