Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Californian Samantha O’Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir. Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range at the bottom of Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born alongside her nascent family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 metres, which are chilled by winter snow and nourished by the African summer sun, produces classic, cool climate wines which are rich, complex and lovingly hand-crafted.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
Samantha O’Keefe performed miracles to produce this wine: because a fire destroyed part of her vineyards and all of her finished wine in late 2019, she had to select wines from different vineyards in Stellenbosch, with 15% also coming from the upper Hemel-enAarde valley in Hermanus, whose grapes bore close resemblance to those lost on her vineyard.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 600 litres per tonne. The Chardonnay was naturally fermented and aged in 300-litre French oak barrels, with 5% new oak. Although the oak gives this wine its luxurious texture, the philosophy was to ensure the fruit, acidity and pH drove the wine’s flavour, rather than obtaining overt, extracted buttery notes from the oak.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A complex, expressive bouquet of citrus and tropical fruits layered with brioche, honey and walnut. The palate is carried through by a distinct minerality and crisp acidity through to a lingering citrus finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Chardonnay 100%.

AWARDS:
• 92 Points, Wine Advocate, 2024
• 93 Points, Tim Atkin MW, 2024
• 92 Points, Neal Martin, 2024