Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2011

This medium bodied wine has strong aromas of citrus, dry pear and orange peal fruit. The Chardonnay of the Stellenbosch area, with the extended lees contact in the barrels, added complexity and mouth feel to the blend.  The grapes from the Robertson Karoo soils give citrus mineral characters with a flinty finish on the palate. This style of wine  that we produce, with no malolactic fermentation in the barrel, ensures a fresh, round, crisp aftertaste with clean, strong varietal fruit. 

In the Cellar

After harvesting, the grapes were left in static drainers for 6 hours to extract flavour from the skins. The fermentation process was started in stainless steel tanks after which the wine fermented in 30% new, 50% second fill and 20% third fill French oak barrels. After the alcoholic fermentation was completed, no malolactic fermentation occured and the wine was left on the lees for 6 months. Barrel fermentation and maturation took place in 300 litre French oak tight grain barrels for an 7 month period.