Delheim Chardonnay Sur Lie 2021

I attended a tutored tasting of the Cape Wine Academy once, and one of the lecturers specifically mentioned the Delheim Chardonnay Sur Lie when we discussed wines left on the lees. It was only two years later that I got to taste this wine, but it was worth the wait.

What this Chardonnay showcases, is a soft and creamy Chardonnay, but one should not mistake that for oaky and buttery. This is a fresh, zesty and limey Chardonnay with a really soft and creamy mouthfeel, because the lees (the skins that remain behind after pressing the grapes) were left on the juice to preserve the fruit flavours and soften the wine.

This wine has the typical lemon notes of Chardonnay, together with fresh stone fruit, oak, yellow flowers and a hint of vanilla pod. It is soft and creamy on the palate and this slightly overwhelms the freshness of the finish. The creaminess of the sur lie is well integrated and not too much.

This is another good wine from Delheim, well worth trying. It will pair well with a chicken pasta. This wine can be cellared for up to five years.

Producer: Delheim

Variety: Chardonnay 100%

Vintage: 2021

Origin: Stellenbosch

Winemaker: Roelof Lotriet

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: 13.5%

RS: 2.2g/l

Average price: R270

Rating: 90/100