Matthew van Heerden Signature Chardonnay 2014

Va-va-voom!

Winemaker Matthew van Heerden made his name with Chardonnay when he worked at Uva Mira, winning the title of Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year in 2011 with the 2009 vintage from the Helderberg property.

Now at Webersburg, he’s also making wines under his own MVH Signature label, and his Chardonnay 2014 (Wine Cellar price: R250) is rated 5 Stars in Platter’s 2016.

It’s a wine which demonstrates that assessments will always be relative rather than absolute. Consisting of 85% Stellenbosch grapes and 15% Elgin, it’s very much in the Van Heerden trademark style which is to say flamboyant, dramatic and intense.

Very expressive on the nose with notes of lime, lemon, lunchbox orange and stone fruit plus some yeasty complexity. On the palate, it’s seemingly sweet, rich and broad with moderate acidity. It’s very particular, and will surely have its fans as its rating in Platter’s indicates, but I ultimately find it overdone.

#WinemagRating: 89/100.