WINE: Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2022
BACKSTORY: Read FEATURE | Tesselaarsdal : It takes a village
Alc: 12.88%
Acid: 6.7 g/L
pH: 3.30
Residual Sugar: 2.6 g/L
Amphorae Ageing: 5 months, 77% amphorae, and 23% neutral oak
Yield: 6 tons / ha
Production: 614.91 cases
Fruit Origin: Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, La Vierge Vineyards (100% unirrigated)
Released: August 2012
"An elegant wine that reflects roundness and a crisp acidity with subtle defining notes of white pear and lemon toast. Reflective of site, this cool climate medium bodied wine is both silky and fresh with an elegant long finish."
Tesselaarsdal was founded in 2015 by long-standing Hamilton Russell Vineyards employee Berene Sauls. It is named after the historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal - not far from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge wine appellation - where Berene was born, a descendant of the freed slaves who were bequeathed the land of the Tesselaarsdal valley by former Dutch East India Company soldier Johannes Tesselaar's widow in 1832.
The 2022 growing season had a fair amount of rain falling before the grapes started to ripen. This did not have a negative effect as the natural irrigation helped to reduce stress levels on the vines, allowing them to function optimally during ripening period. The accumulation of cold units in the early winter was fantastic for breaking dormancy. Winter rainfall was lower than in the previous season but still sufficient to replenish soil profiles. The vineyards had even budburst and the initial growth was also even, mainly due to higher than normal maximum and minimum temperatures during September. Grape quality was very favourable, leading to an exceptional vintage.
RATINGS: LATEST RELEASE NO RATINGS YET.
