St Leger Chardonnay 2021

The St Leger label belongs to internet executive Charles Searle, the wines made on his Constantia property, the site of Le Marais manor house. Grapes for the Chardonnay 2021 were sourced from Elgin with Daniel Keulder of Constantia Uitsig consulting as winemaker.

Fermented and matured for 10 months in a combination of new barrels and terracotta amphorae, the nose shows lemon plus hints of struck-match reduction, oatmeal, almond and some leesy complexity. The palate has great fruit concentration and weight matched by punchy acidity before a savoury finish. It’s powerful but balanced – packed with flavour, the alcohol is nevertheless just 12.5% and it’s therefore not short of verve. Price: R450 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

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