Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2025

There was a cool and wet growing period, then warmth rolled through, and as disease pressure increased, fruit was picked to navigate that. Of course natural, barrel ferment, malo comes through, the wine rested on lees, then matured in barrel further. There’s something special happening here. It’s the easy start, then the build of texture, then the compact finish. Quite unlike many chardonnay wines, it doesn’t flow in a regal sense. There’s also quite a bit of nougat, vanilla wafer, light toffee elements, a thick wash of salted cashew and then you start to work out that Golden Delicious apple juice, green pineapple, peachy swishes, watermelon rind, ginger, toasty cinnamon and little dashes of white pepper sit in the mix. It’s a flavoursome chardonnay, but also feels effortless and fine, even with its more generous persona. A wine to sit back and relax with, and enjoy all the elements unfurling. Eighteen months to two years is the zone, me thinks, but will go a little further. Mike Bennie, The Wine Front (2024 review) Aromas of lemon curd and citrus peel lead into a palate with impressive drive and definition. Lime and citrus peel are complemented by a hint of white nectarine, while fine minerality carries through to a long, precise finish that invites another sip. A wine showing excellent ageing potential. The 2025 Chardonnay is fermented entirely in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new. Natural yeast fermentation and complete malolactic fermentation contribute to the wine’s complexity and texture. The wine spends 10 months on lees, with weekly stirring by hand, followed by a further eight months of barrel maturation. Minimal handling and filtration preserve its flavour and character.