Lourensford, Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay 2011, South Africa
I’m banging on about Chardonnay again, so ABC members look away now. Here we have a gloriously ripe but crisp and quite Burgundian example from Lourensford, a relatively new name in Somerset West in Stellenbosch. Fermented and partly aged in new French oak barriques, there’s an inviting Brazil nut creaminess on the nose, plenty of buttery, oatmeally lees richness and lots of crunchy apple fruit. In the mouth it is really rather classy, with a joyous ripeness to the fruit, edging into the pineapple and mango range, but the apple, pear and lemon core of fruit and acidity drives through. Yes it is buttery and rich, but it has lovely balance and concentration. Watch the video for more information and food matching suggestions. Around 11.00 – 12.00, Slurp.co.uk, sawinesonline.co.uk and other UK stockists on
