Vergelegen (South Africa) Chardonnay 1999
This wine is in only around half of Sainsbury’s stores, but it is such a good wine that I decided it had to the Wine of the Week. Vergelegen have a state of the art winery in Stellenbosch, and their wines are very highly regarded. This Chardonnay is a beautifully poised and elegant example, with a nose of butterscotch, pear and peachy fruit, little nuances of ginger and cinnamon, and a lovely clarity that reminds me of classy white Burgundy. On the palate there’s a gorgeous balance of buttery tropical fruit: rich, round pineapple and ripe melon, a certain nutty, savoury quality and lovely citrus acidity. The wine is medium-bodied and that same sense of clarity preserves these delicous flavours into a long, well-balanced finish. Very fine Chardonnay indeed. UK stockist: Sainsbury 6.49
