Meerlust Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2023

Meerlust is one of the oldest and most respected estates in South Africa - the same family has owned it near Stellenbosch since 1756, and its red Rubicon is one of the country's benchmark wines. The Chardonnay is its only white, and in recent years it's been made in a fresher, less heavy style. All the fruit is grown on the estate, just a few kilometres from the sea. The breeze off the bay doesn't make the farm cold, but it smooths out the temperature, so the grapes ripen slowly and evenly and keep their freshness. The wine is fermented in French oak barrels and left to settle for several months, which gives it a little gentle richness and a soft, toasty edge - but the fruit is always the point, not the oak. The result is bright and fresh, with lemon, pear and a touch of toasted almond, and a smooth, clean finish. There's enough weight to feel generous, without being heavy or buttery. Serve chilled, around 10-12°C.