TesselaarsdalChardonnay2023

A wine with a unique history and story. The small village of Tesselaarsdal in the Overberg, 24km north-east of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is named after East India Company settler Johannes Tesselar. On his death in 1810, he bestowed the land to his freed slaves and owner/winemaker Berene herself is a descendant on one of those very slaves. If you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene and her grandmother. Berene has in fact worked at Hamilton Russell for the last 16 years, having started as an au pair, before moving in to the admin office and then becoming fascinated by the winemaking process. Extreme care is taken to ensure this tiny-production, classically styled Chardonnay expresses the personality of the cool, maritime ridge and it’s stony, iron-rich soils.

Country: South Africa

Region: Hemel en Aarde

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5

‘Like her Pinot Noir, Berene Sauls’ new Chardonnay is made with fruit from La Vierge. Fermented in amphorae and older wood, it’s bready, sappy and saline, with some wild yeast complexity and bright acidity. A promising début. 2020-25.’ – Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2019, 92/100