Leeu Passant Chardonnay 2023

Grapes for the Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay are sourced from a single vineyard planted on the deep, loam-rich soils of Helderberg Mountain. At the winery the grapes were pressed as whole bunches and the juice was allowed to settle overnight. Minimal SO2 was added and no other additions are made.The juice was then racked to 225 litre French oak barrels for fermentation, 30% of which were new. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts and lasted up to eight weeks. The wine was left without additional sulphur on its lees for 12 months and during this time finished malolactic fermentation. The wine was then transferred to third and fourth use, 500 litre French oak barrels for a further six months prior to bottling. This Chardonnay has oak notes, fresh passion fruit, lime and flint on the nose. The textured palate is packed with citrus zest and crushed shells and has long finish.[#intro]A wonderfully pure, textured & low sulphur single-vineyard Chardonnay from Stellenbosch...[/intro]