.png)
When I tasted the Tesselaarsdal range for the first time, I stood still for a moment and thought: WOW! Then I got inveigled to love this fabulous wine even more when I met the lady behind it all: Berene Sauls. Berene started off at Hamilton Russell, working as an au pair for the family and got drawn into the wine-side of things, soon to put her own label on a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of her own. She decided to name it Tesselaarsdal, with reference to a small rural settlement outside Caledon in the Western Cape – this is where Berene grew up.
In the glass, this wine has a pale-yellow colour and it is very forthcoming on the nose. Complex notes of tropical fruit, vanilla, lemon, and yellow flowers all contribute to a rich bouquet. The entry on the palate is elegant, and the effect of the amphora can be sensed early on. It has a slightly waxy entry, with the acidity developing over time. Stone fruit, yellow apple, lemon rind, beeswax, apricot and honeycomb come through, leaving a fresh and elegant finish on the palate. It has a long finish, leaving you longing for more.
I recently presented this wine at the Decanter Wine Club, alongside a Burgundian Chardonnay and no one could confidently say which one is South African and which one is French. For me, this shows that this wine places itself on a world stage and I truly believe that it will impress wine connoisseurs even more soon. It is recommended to chill this wine well and it can be enjoyed on its own or with a creamy pasta or chicken breasts. It would not want to compete with strong spices and I would also recommend to have the little brother, the Pinot Noir, ready as the next wine in the line-up. This is a wine that should be tried by anyone who enjoys a good glass of Chardonnay!
Producer: Tesselaarsdal
Variety: Chardonnay 100%
Vintage: 2022
Origin: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Western Cape, South Africa
Winemaker: Emul Ross
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.88%
RS: 2.6g/l
Average price: R400
Rating: 96/100
Commentaires