Goode’s Crib Sheets No 4 – South African Chardonnay
South Africa is currently making some very exciting wines, and Chardonnay is one category that’s performing very well. Here’s my crib sheet of what I consider to be the best examples: ones that I’ll look for on a wine list. Not surprisingly, the cooler climate areas of Elgin and Hemel-en-Aarde are strongly represented here.
- Crystallum, Hemel-en-Aarde (especially Clay Shales)
- Restless River, Hemel-en-Arde (Ava is fantastic)
- Kershaw, Elgin (all are good, but especially the Deconstructed bottlings)
- Creation, Hemel-en-Arde (Glenn’s, Art of Chardonnay)
- Capensis, Stellenbosch
- Iona, Elgin (Monopole Elgin Highlands)
- Jordan, Stellenbosch (Nine Yards)
- Storm, Hemel-en-Aarde (especially Ridge)
- Leeu Passant, Stellenbosch
- Newton Johnson, Hemel-en-Aarde
- De Wetshof, Robertson (Bateleur)
- Hamilton Russel, Hemel-en-Aarde
- Chamomix, Franschhoek (Reserve)
- Whalehaven, Hemel-en-Aarde (Seascape)
- Ataraxia, Hemel-en-Aarde
