De Wetshof The Site Chardonnay 2019

De Wetshof The Site Chardonnay 2019

De Wetshof Wine Estate is a family-owned vineyard, in the beautiful Robertson Wine Appellation, the place of important vineyards, stables of fine thoroughbred horses, and sensational roses. Danie and Lesca de Wet and their sons Johann and Peter are all active in the business. The name De Wetshof has been synonymous with the production of fine wines in South Africa since the 1970’s. As the first registered wine estate in the Robertson Wine Valley, De Wetshof has become known internationally as South Africa’s eminent Chardonnay House due to the pioneering role it played in introducing this noble Burgundian grape to the country.

The De Wets, Peter, Gera and Johann, Danie and Lesca

The origin of the name of the wine is that the grapes come from a single Vineyard, Block 19A which is planted to a Chardonnay clone imported from Burgundy. Once ready for harvest, the grapes are picked a dawn before the Summer heat rises in the vineyards. This retains much of the aromas and flavours in the grapes. The bunches are destalked and the grapes pressed. The juice rests cool overnight and the clear juice is racked off and taken to French Oak Barrels, especially selected by well known French Cooper, Christian Radoux, a friend of the family. Once fermented, the wine stays in the barrels with weekly bâtonnage, stirring with a wooden baton. Once drained off the lees, the wine is returned to barrel for further maturation. It is then prepared for bottling.

De Wetshof Barrel Cellar

Pour
From a Burgundy shaped bottle and closed with natural cork. The label is elegant and simple. There is a band around the top of the bottle showing De Wetshof’s Cape Vintners Classification. In the glass, the wine is a gembright pale lemon in colour. The aromas are classical Chardonnay. Supported by the roasted nuts from the oak, its spice ad vanilla, the citrus, an aromatic baked quince and white flowers all shine. A truly impressive glass. While eminently drinkable now, the wine will reward greatly after a couple of years of cool cellaring.

Nadia Graves’s Duck Breast with Honey & Vinegar

Pair
The De Wetshof The Site Chardonnay 2019 is a wine perfect with food. In fact, the wine has sufficient flavour, that it will happily tackle Roast Pork Belly with its crackling, a scallop of Veal Marsala and a full flavoured game fish. Nadia Graves’s Duck breast with honey and vinegar is a perfect partner. Click HERE for her recipe

Nadia Graves walking the dog in her French Village