THE CHARDONNAY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA; causing a stir among London media and trade
THE CHARDONNAY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA have been causing a stir among London media and trade, hosting a comparative tasting of 23 South African Chardonnays, and 12 international Chardonnays.
Ten of the international Chardonnays were sourced from Radford Dale Imports, and flown out to London especially.
Bevan Newton-Johnson (Newton-Johnson) and Craig Wessels (Restless River) photographed below via Jamie Goode at Wine Anorak. You can read the full article via Wine Anorak here.
A round-up of the international Chardonnay’s available here in SA, as reviewed by Jamie.
Murdoch Hill Chardonnay 2021 Adelaide Hills, Australia
“Lively and energetic but with some depth. Compact peach and spice here with nice tastiness. Lively with some pineapple brightness, finishing with a nice bitter twist. Tangy and alert.” 93/100
Michel Bouzereau Meursault Les Tessons 2022 Bourgogne, France
“This is very classy. Some ripe citrus and bold pineapple with nice crystalline structure and good acidity. Great concentration and focus here with bold fruit, good acidity and a nice bitter twist. Textured and complete.” 95/100
P&M Jaqueson Rully Premier Cru Vauvry 2022 Bourgogne, France
“This is dense and powerful with ripe, open pear and pineapple fruit. Good acidity and nice weight. Fleshy and expressive. There’s a touch of caramel on the finish. But it’s really expressive.” 93/100
Black Book Painter of Light Chardonnay 2020 Essex, England
“Bright and lively with nice citrus fruit, showing nice precision and good acidity. Quite pure and focused. This is really stylish with a subtle mealy hint. So nice, with just a touch of wildness.” 95/100
Sandi Chardonnay 2021 Sta. Rita Hills, California
“Lively with grapefruit and apple, and some lemon. Open, fruity and bright with nice precision and energy, showing brightness with a transparency to it. Good acidity.” 93/100
Arnot Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay 2021 Napa Valley, California
“12.5% alcohol. Waxy, pithy and concentrated with nice depth. Restrained and well balanced. Some nice pithiness here with a core of direct citrus fruit, as well as a touch of ripe pear. Very stylish in this restrained manner.” 94/100
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 2022 Bourgogne, France
“Really lovely melon, peach, pear and citrus fruit with amazing detail. Nicely complex with an open personality, and moderate acidity. This is brilliantly open and expressive. Ripe and delicious.” 95/100
Patrick Sullivan Millstream Chardonnay 2019 Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
“Really complex, toasty and spicy. Very showy but well balanced. Lemon, grapefruit and spice with a tapering finish. Very stylish in this crystalline, toasty mould.” 94/100
Guy Amiot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles 2021 Bourgogne, France
“One-third barrel, two-thirds stainless steel. Grapey and broad with nice citrus fruit and some table grape notes. There’s nice openness to the fruit with some melon richness. Very fruity and expressive; ripe but with good balance.” 93/100
Hubert Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Frionnes 2021 Bourgogne, France
“Taut and focused with nice citrus weight. Very expressive with lovely acidity. Some pithy hints with lovely purity. Has a hint of reduction. Nice acidity on the finish. Quite compact.” 94/100
See all global Chardonnays available through Radford Dale Imports HERE