Meerlust Chardonnay 2016

Technical Analysis

Winemaker - Chris Williams
Main Variety - Chardonnay
Alcohol - 13.52 %vol
pH - 3.31
RS - 1.71 g/l
Total Acid - 6.7 g/l
Appellation - Stellenbosch

Characteristics

Type - White
Style - Dry
Body - Full
Taste - Mineral


Accolades

2017 SAWi Awards - Grand Gold
5 Stars Platters Guide 2017
Decanter April 2017 - 90 points

Tasting Notes

Very bright, polished platinum with green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing nose with pear, citrus and floral notes developing into lemon cream, oatmeal and marzipan richness. On the palate the wine is medium bodied and linear but retains generous focused citrus fruit flavours with sleek, balanced and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit and stony minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish.

Ageing Potential

Up to six years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

Blend Information

100% Chardonnay

Food Suggestions

Grilled fish, white and red meat. Ideally served at 12°-14°C.

In The Vineyard

Sourced from 3 vineyards on the Estate, the first planted in 1991 (23 years old in year of vintage) situated on alluvial Dundee soils which produces the rich textured mouth feel and minerality. The younger vineyards were planted in 2007 on Cartref soils giving a greater fruit expression. Crop thinning occurred at pruning and at veraison. Five separate picking stages at optimum ripeness.

About The Harvest

Hand picked.  Partial whole bunch pressing and static settling overnight.

In The Cellar

Some solids remained in the juice. Transferred to 50% new tight grain Allier French Oak and 50% second fill 300 litre barrels for fermentation. Half of the barrels were inoculated with selected Chardonnay yeast, while the other half underwent un-inoculated, spontaneous fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was given a racking to remove heavy lees and returned to barrel for malo- lactic fermentation. The wine was barrel matured for 11 months before bottling.


Other Vintages

Wine Wine Maker Main Variety
Meerlust Chardonnay 2023 Wim Truter Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2022 Wim Truter Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2021 Wim Truter Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2020 Altus Treurnicht Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2019 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2018 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2017 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2016 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2015 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2014 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2013 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2012 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2011 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2009 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2008 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2007 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2006 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2005 Chris Williams Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2003 Giorgio Dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2001 Giorgio dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 2000 Giorgio dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1999 Giorgio dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1998 Giorgio Dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1997 Giorgio Dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1996 Giorgio Dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay 1995 Giorgio Dalla Cia Chardonnay
Meerlust Chardonnay Collectors Tin 750ml Chris Williams Chardonnay

  +27.218433587       +27.218433274       shop@meerlust.co.za
Meerlust Estate Baden Powell Drive P.O. Box 7121 , Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa