This wine is made from grapes grown in a vineyard established on a family farm famous for apples and pears on top of the Witzenberg Mountain in Ceres.
This newly declared appellation of Ceres Plateau is situated 960 meters in altitude, with soft shale soils and extremely cold winters. In some years the vines are completely covered in snow during winter – unique in South Africa and making the climate truly continental and ideal for Chardonnay in particular.
De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay
The slow ripening fruit produces wines of consistently distinctive character and expressive style. Crisp Granny Smith apple and ripe citrus aromas of Ruby grapefruit are permeated with soft layers of crème caramel and sweet orange marmalade. The flavours are lively, and the finish refined and rich with a long tail due to oaking and extended lees contact.
The wine has the potential to mature for the next 4 to 5 years resulting in an even fuller and richer wine.