This wine is made at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, which was founded by Analjit Singh. The partnership with Chris and Andrea Mullineux started in 2013 when Analjit, who had visited South Africa for the first time in 2010 for the FIFA World Cup, bought into Mullineux. Chris and Andrea were brought in as winemakers at Leeu Estates, enabling them to work with fruit from Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and other regions beyond Swartland.
This Chardonnay comes from a single vineyard planted on the higher slopes of Helderberg Mountain. Located just 4km from the ocean, the site has a pronounced maritime influence, which extends the growing season to produce fruit with incredible intensity of flavour and balancing, zesty acidity. The soils are a combination of decomposed sandstone and rich gravel-clay which result in rich mouthfeel and texture.
On arrival at the winery, the grapes were chilled in a cold room facility. The grapes were then pressed as whole bunches and the juice was allowed to settle overnight. Minimal SO2 was added and no other additions are made. The juice was then racked to barrel for fermentation. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts and lasted up to eight weeks. The wine was left without additional sulphur on its lees until spring. During this time the wine finished malolactic fermentation. Ageing took place in third and fourth use, 500 litre French oak barrels for nine months. The barrels are racked and blended just before the following vintage and bottled unfiltered.
This Chardonnay has aromas of yellow stone fruits with hints of cloves. The textured palate has notes of peaches and lemon curd, with a touch of salinity and well-integrated oak character, all balanced by a zesty acidity and mineral edge. The finish is long, with a beautiful purity.