Born in Burgundy, the Chardonnay grape is a world traveller, known to adapt to any environment thrown at it. Here on home ground, West Coast wine producers don’t mess around when it comes to producing Chardonnays with a wide range of expressions. One of these, the Kloovenburg barrel-fermented Chardonnay 2022 from the Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate in Riebeek-Kasteel stands tall.
The nose is all layers of grapefruit, pineapple and lemon. You’re welcomed by a thick, palate-coating mouthfeel which is lifted by pleasing acidity, allowing you to enjoy the weight and refreshment all at once. Meanwhile, the palate shows banana, lime and citrus and finishes with a creamy texture.
Chicken, pork, creamy pasta, salmon or grilled fish are first-class food companions, but it also happens to be a great wind-down wine.
Kloovenburg’s Chardonnay just scratches the surface of what the Du Toit family has to offer. It all started in 1997 when Pieter du Toit, his sons and a few friends made the estate’s first wine, a Pinotage. Today it has 13 wines in four ranges.
The farm’s tastings feature a flight of nine wines curated by Pieter du Toit to suit a variety of palates and preferences.
For tastings ph 022 4481635; shop: https://kloovenburg.com/.
