Meerlust Chardonnay 2018

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Technical Analysis

Winemaker - Chris Williams

Main Variety - Chardonnay

Alcohol - 12.9 %vol

pH - 3.15

RS - 1.84 g/l

Total Acid - 6.56 g/l

Appellation - Stellenbosch

Characteristics

Type - White

Style - Dry

Body - Full

Taste - Mineral

Tasting Notes

Very bright, polished platinum with green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing nose with pear, citrus and floral notes developing into lemon cream, oatmeal and marzipan richness. On the palate the wine is medium bodied and linear but retains generous focused citrus fruit flavours with sleek, balanced and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit and stony minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish. Decanting and exposure to air opens the aroma and palate of the wine

Ageing Potential

Up to six years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

Blend Information

100% Chardonnay

Food Suggestions

Grilled fish, white and red meat. Ideally served at 12°-14°C.

In The Vineyard

Sourced from 4 vineyards on the Estate situated on well drained Oakleaf, Dundee and Swartland soil types which produces the rich textured mouth feel and minerality. The younger vineyards were planted in 2007 on Cartref soils giving a greater fruit expression. The vineyards are mostly south facing towards the cool Atlantic of False Bay. Crop thinning occurred at pruning and at veraison. Six separate picking stages at optimum ripeness to ensure complexity and balance.

About The Harvest

Hand picked. Partial whole bunch pressing and static settling overnight.

In The Cellar

Some solids remained in the juice. Transferred to 40% new tight grain Allier French Oak and 60% second fill 300 litre barrels for fermentation. Half of the barrels were inoculated with selected Chardonnay yeast, while the other half underwent un-inoculated, spontaneous fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was given a racking to remove heavy lees and returned to barrel for malo- lactic fermentation. The wine was barrel matured for 9 months before bottling.

Other Vintages

Wine	Wine Maker	Main Variety
Meerlust Chardonnay 2023	Wim Truter	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2022	Wim Truter	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2021	Wim Truter	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2020	Altus Treurnicht	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2019	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2018	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2017	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2016	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2015	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2014	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2013	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2012	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2011	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2009	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2008	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2007	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2006	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2005	Chris Williams	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2003	Giorgio Dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2001	Giorgio dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2000	Giorgio dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1999	Giorgio dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1998	Giorgio Dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1997	Giorgio Dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1996	Giorgio Dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1995	Giorgio Dalla Cia	Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay Collectors Tin 750ml	Chris Williams	Chardonnay