Vergelegen Premium Chardonnay 2019

WINEMAKERS NOTE

This is the eighth year that entirely Estate-grown grapes have been used in the making of the Premium Chardonnay.  The 2019 crop is the smallest ever, one-third of the normal crop and I believe the effect of global warming has come home to roost.  We undoubtedly will have to review sites for new plantings with even more care.

ORIGIN

The 2019 Chardonnay is made entirely from Estate  grown grapes on the Rocklands , Rooiland, Slanghoek and Korhaan sites.

VINIFICATION

Grapes were whole-bunch pressed and not given any skin contact. The juice, slightly clarified, was racked into 20% new French oak barrels (Francois Frère, Dargaud & Jaegle, St Martin and 80% second, third and fourth fill barrels) for alcoholic fermentation. All the different vineyards were barrel fermented and matured on the lees for 8 months before bottling on 7 November 2019.

COMPOSITION

100% Chardonnay from the Estate

ANALYSIS

Alc  13.5%
RS    2.0 g/l
TA    5.4 g/l
pH    3.48

MATURATION

Drink now or allow to evolve over the next few years.  Released November 2020.