2024 Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Unwooded

Haute Cabrière is a renowned winery in Franschhoek, South Africa, with a clear focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate is led by the von Arnim family and builds upon a long tradition dating back to the French Huguenots. This influence is reflected in the style of the wines, in which freshness, balance, and gastronomic versatility take center stage.

The house is known for its bright, accessible wines that simultaneously possess sufficient depth. In addition to their sparkling wines, the still Chardonnay is also an important part of the range. The Unwooded Chardonnay demonstrates how pure and direct this grape can be without the influence of wood. You can find more information about this winery in the Winery tab.

Origin and terroir

The vineyards of Haute Cabrière are located in Franschhoek, an area known for its relatively cool conditions within South Africa. The surrounding mountains temper the heat and create large differences between day and night temperatures. This helps to preserve freshness and aromatic tension in the grapes.

The soils consist primarily of granite and sandstone, ensuring good drainage and a light minerality in the wine. The influence of the ocean also plays a role, with cooling air currents contributing to even ripening. In this wine, that translates into bright fruit, fresh acidity, and a clean style.

Grapes and vineyard management

The 2024 Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Unwooded is made from 100% Chardonnay, sourced from carefully selected younger vineyards. This choice ensures lively aromatics and a fresh style, with an emphasis on the expression of the fruit.

Vineyard management is aimed at preserving natural acidity and harvesting at the optimal moment. As a result, the grapes remain fresh and aromatic without losing their ripeness. This is essential for an unoaked Chardonnay, where every nuance of the fruit is immediately visible in the glass.

Vinification and aging

After the harvest, the grapes are fermented cool in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of the fruit. Due to the absence of wood influence, the wine remains crisp, fresh, and direct in its expression.

The wine ages briefly on the fine lees, resulting in a slightly rounder mouthfeel and added texture. This sur lie aging imparts subtle depth without losing the fresh style. The process is entirely focused on highlighting aromatic clarity and natural acidity.

The result is a pure, modern Chardonnay in which fruit and freshness take center stage.

Color, smell and taste

In the glass, the wine displays a light, bright straw-yellow color. The aroma is expressive, with notes of lychee and citrus, complemented by fresh nuances of lime.

On the palate, flavors of lime and pear come to the fore, supported by a lively and well-balanced acidity. The structure is light to medium-bodied, with a fresh, energetic style that immediately invites the next sip.

The finish is clean and refreshing, with a light roundness and a nice length that makes the wine accessible.

Style and character

The 2024 Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Unwooded is a textbook example of a fresh, un-oaked Chardonnay. The style is crisp, fruit-driven, and lively, with an emphasis on purity and drinkability.

The character is open and accessible, but not simple. Thanks to the combination of fresh acidity, light texture, and aromatic expression, the wine has sufficient depth to remain interesting. This makes it versatile, both as an aperitif and at the table.

It pairs well with lovers of crisp white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc, but with just a little more roundness and structure.

Pick up in Dordrecht?

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.