2020 Boekenhoutskloof Cap Maritime Chardonnay
Type of Wine | White |
---|---|
Country | South Africa |
Region | Western Cape |
Appellation | Hemel en Aarde Vallei |
Winery | Boekenhoutskloof |
Year | 2020 |
Grape | Chardonnay |
Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
Drink window | 2023 - 2030 |
The Cap Maritime Chardonnay from Boekenhoutskloof has beautiful aromas of oak, citrus, ripe yellow fruit, mandarin peel, melon and a light spiciness. The wine is medium to full bodied on the palate and there is a nice balance between ripeness and freshness and you can taste green apple, citrus fruit and a tingling saltiness. It ends with a pleasant long finish. It is a very well made Chardonnay in a South African Cool climate which will not look out of place in a Burgundy blind tasting. 90/100 Parker and only 4,500 bottles were made of this Burgundy from Heaven and Earth
The wine is made by pressing the whole bunches and fermenting with the naturally occurring yeasts, 70% in oak barrels and 30% in concrete eggs (the latter part is not fermented malolactic).
Boekenhoutskloof is a high-profile winery in Franschhoek that is particularly impressive in terms of quality. Boekenhoutskloof, despite its somewhat unusual African name for the 'French' Franschhoek, was founded three centuries ago by French Huguenots. The current winemaker Marc Kent also still has something with France. He visits it at least once a year to find new inspiration in the northern Rhône, Cornas. In 2020 Boekenhoutskloof was voted the best winery in South Africa by Platter
Fun fact: On the head of the capsule you will find an image of a slender dam. This is the figurehead of Boekenhoutskloof and is an adaptation of an early silver mark from the Cape of Good Hope and she bears the dove of peace and hope. It guards the Boekenhoutskloof and stands for intrinsic quality that stands above all else.
Tim Atkin - 93 points (2018)
Jancis Robinson - 16.5 points (2018)
Platter's - ****(*) (2018)
Over Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Boekenhoutskloof is located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It is about twenty kilometers from Hermanus, the coastal town on Walker Bay that is also known as the 'whale capital' of South Africa. The Atlantic Ocean not only ensures that the whales float around here with pleasure, it also brings with it an ideal climate for viticulture. It is warm, but it rarely gets warmer than thirty degrees in the growing season. This is due to the fresh sea breeze and the fact that the vineyards are slightly higher than most vineyards in the area. The grapes get the chance to ripen optimally, but retain their fresh acidity thanks to the cool nights. The soil also plays an important role in this. The vineyards have a clay-derived slate soil called Bokkeveld. It prevents water stress and makes the vines less vigorous, which in turn contributes to the slow ripening of the grapes (due to the slow release of groundwater).
Boekenhoutskloof is a high-profile winery in Franschhoek that is particularly impressed in the assessment. Boekenhoutskloof, despite its somewhat unusual African name for the 'French' Franschhoek, was founded three centuries ago by French Huguenots.
The current winemaker Marc Kent also still has something with France. He initially visits once a year to find new inspiration in the confused Rhône, Cornas. Marc Kent, Managing Partner & Technical Director of Boekenhoutskloof, is a headstrong spirit and the driving force behind the various brands and properties within the Boekenhoutskloof stable. He is not afraid to experiment with the unconventional, but his main commitment is quality at every level and in every detail. Marc is as confident about the subsequent development and growth of Boekenhoutskloof as he is about the larger South African wine industry. He has been actively involved in the Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism Association since its inception as a board member and has chaired the Vignerons de Franschhoek on several occasions. Through Boekenhoutskloof's investments in the Swartland wine region, he became one of the founders of the Swartland Revolution and Swartland Independent Producers Association.
Biodiversity and being careful with this earth is an important element and is highly valued. In order to preserve the unique biodiversity of their terrain, all invasive alien plants can be removed from the farm - so the things that don't belong to nature. Large parts of the mountain have already been cleared of pine and gum trees. Restoration of the fragile riverine area and the reintroduction of several protea species are ongoing. Boekenhoutskloof is a founding member of the Franschhoek Mountain Conservancy (together with Haut Espoir), an initiative to improve neighborly cooperation and improve fire management and conservation of fynbos in the valley.
At home in Franschhoek, Marc has made a name for himself with great wines such as Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, each of which ranks among the absolute top of South Africa. But Kent has more strings to his bow. In addition to these small showpieces, produced in small quantities, he also makes exceptionally attractive wines under the name Porcupine Ridge and The Wolftrap that are available to a wider audience. At a somewhat higher level, The Chocolate Block certainly belongs here. In 2020 Boekenhoutskloof is chosen as the best Winery by Platter
Fun fact: On the head of the capsule you will find an image of a thin dam. This is the figurehead of Boekenhoutskloof and is an adaptation of an early silver mark from the Cape of Good Hope and she bears the dove of peace and hope. They document the Boekhoutskloof and stand for intrinsic quality above all else.
Type of Wine | White |
---|---|
Country | South Africa |
Region | Western Cape |
Appellation | Hemel en Aarde Vallei |
Winery | Boekenhoutskloof |
Grape | Chardonnay |
Biological certified | No |
Natural wine | No |
Vegan | No |
Year | 2020 |
Drinking as of | 2023 |
Drinking till | 2030 |
Alcohol % | 13.5 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 90 |
James Suckling rating | 92 |
Tasting Profiles | Complex, Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Rich, Round, Full, White fruit |
Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
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