Renaissance 2015 – Sophie & Julien Schaal

Julien and Sophie Schaal are based in Alsace but fly into South Africa every year to make a range of Chardonnays. The Mountain Vineyards 2015 rated 89 points and Evidence 2015 91 in the recent Prescient Chardonnay Report, the former being from several Elgin vineyards, the latter from Paul Cluver.

Tres chic.

Renaissance 2015
Approximate retail price: R215
From grapes grown in Elandskloof and sourced through Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum. Blossom and dried herbs before pear and citrus. Light bodied, focused and tight. Pure fruit and an exhilarating line of acidity before a pithy finish.

#WinemagRating: 93/100.

Confluence 2015
Approximate retail price: R215
From grapes grown at Newton Johnson Vineyards in Upper Hemel-en-Aarde.  Lemon and orange plus some leesy complexity. Appears rich and ripe with a creamy texture offset by tangy acidity. The most exuberant of the three single-site wines.

#WinemagRating: 90/100.