This Chardonnay is a keeper. Mulderbosch Chardonnay, is another South African “gem” and is very well balanced with acidity and sweetness. It is a fresh, crisp wine but with a full, creamy texture. It’s a perfect drink with sea foods, like fried calamari and many other dishes like Fresh tuna carpaccio, duck roasted with a ginger-citrus sauce, snails, roast lamb with rosemary and seafood pasta. The finish of this wine is long, and tarty. Citrus and apple aromas on the nose combine with vanilla, nuts and almonds on the palate to create a complex but balanced structure.
This wine chilled nicely tasted very well. As it warmed up the acidity took over the overall feel. If you want to enjoy a unique chardonnay, this is something to try. I had tried several wines before and after, but this wine really stood out. This wine will keep in your cellar for a few years. As it ages the acidity will come down and make it more smooth.
Lake Mary Cork&Olive the best Wine Store and Wine Bar in Lake Mary – Heathrow – Sanford areas. We have this wine in stock. Next time you are at Lake Mary Cork & Olive ask us about this wine. We can ship it or deliver it to your home. Yes this wine is also an inexpensive but great wine. None of my customers have complained about any headaches either. So grab a case and enjoy with your friends.
Cheers!
Antoney Manipadam, Certified Sommelier,
Owner Lake Mary Cork & Olive – The best Wine Store in Lake Mary
Wine Information from Cape Classics own website:
VITICULTURAL PRACTICES
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Stellenbosch
Soil Type: Tukulu, Glenrosa, Hutton, Decomposed Malmesbury Shale
Age of Vines: 17 – 18 years
Trellising: Vertical trellis / 3 wire cordon
Yield: 7.5 tons/ha
Irrigation: Drip
Picking Date: February 15-22, 2006
Grape Sugar: 22.5º B
Acidity: 7.7 g/l
pH at Harvest: 3.4
WINEMAKING PRACTICES
Fermentation Temperature: 13-25ºC
Method:
The grapes were handpicked from the Koelenhof area. After being left on their skins for two hours, the grapes were pressed to tank and the juice was cold settled overnight. 6% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, while the remainder was fermented with its own natural yeast in French oak barrels, half new and half second fill. The wine underwent no malolactic fermentation and was aged on its lees for eight months. The wooded and unwooded components were then blended, and the wine was lightly fined and filtered before bottling. It was matured for an additional 8 months in bottle before release.
Wood aging:
10 months in French (85%) and American (9%) oak (half new, half second fill). Remaining 6% of wine was unwooded.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
RS: 4.45 g/l pH: 3.22
TA: 5.64 g/l Alcohol: 13.5%
Maturation potential: 5 years, with proper storage
TASTING NOTES
Legendary Mulderbosch winemaker Mike Dobrovic might be best known for his racy Sauvignon Blanc, but his sublime, age-worthy Chardonnays have gained a cult following of their own! The majority of the juice for this stunning bottling was fermented and aged in a combination of French and American oak. A small component was fermented and aged in tank, lending a crisp, fresh character to the alluring flavors of citrus and green apple backed by toasted nuts, vanilla and spice.
This dazzling Chardonnay from heralded winemaker Mike Dobrovic flaunts alluring aromas and rich, complex flavors of pear, green apple, citrus, and almonds. Crisp and fresh, it balances bright fruit flavors with intriguing nuances of vanilla, nuts and toast.
RATINGS
90 points Wine Spectator – Mulderbosch Chardonnay Stellenbosch
“Very fresh, with bright orange blossom, white peach, melon and fig notes woven together with an elegant stitching of grilled hazelnut. The long finish has nice buried acidity. Drink now. 500 cases imported.”– J.M.
