Tokara Stellenbosch
Premium Chardonnay
A mercifully-priced high-quality Chardonnay with terrific precision and generous fruit—white peach, lime zest, and salted lemon—aged entirely in Burgundian French oak 228L casks (only 3% new) for eight months with ~80% MLF and regular lees stirring. The balance and texture here is dialled in beautifully. It’s rich without being too rich, worthy of the table while being quaffable sans food. This is the kind of delicious workhorse wine you can be proud to open!
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
Varietal/Blend: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Vineyard & Vine Age: Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.
Cellar: The grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and pressed to stainless steel tanks for overnight settling (all gravity fed), after which the juice is racked to barrel. 100% of the wine ferments in 228L French oak Burgundy barrels, only 3% being brand new barrels in this vintage. The wine spends around eight months in oak ageing on the lees with regular lees stirring. 80% of the wine completes malolactic fermentation during barrel ageing. The wine is stabilized and filtered before bottling.
CSPC: 124082
Winemakers Note: The wine displays a brilliant pale straw colour. Aromas of fresh peach and marzipan interplay with lightly toasted brioche characters, subtle cinnamon and vanilla. The entry on the palate is vibrant with fresh pink grapefruit, appealing chalkiness and the lightest note of quince. The palate has a beautiful silky texture - testament to it being barrel aged on the lees – and a long finish. Food pairing: A perfect pairing with apricot and almond chicken tagine, with lemon and feta couscous, or served as an aperitif.
What the Critics are saying:
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Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
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TECHNICAL INFO
Varietal/Blend: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Vineyard: The grapes for this wine originate from Tokara’s Stellenbosch property, as well as bought fruit from two Stellenbosch vineyards where Tokara has a longstanding relationship with the grower and has specific blocks that go to them every year. Yield is about 6 t/ha. The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness with sugars between 21 and 23 degrees brix and acidities ranging from 6 to 8 g/l.
Cellar: The grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and pressed to stainless steel tanks for overnight settling (all gravity fed), after which the juice is racked to barrel. 100% of the wine ferments in 228L French oak Burgundy barrels, only 3% being brand new barrels in this vintage. The wine spends around eight months in oak ageing on the lees with regular lees stirring. 80% of the wine completes malolactic fermentation during barrel ageing. The wine is stabilized and filtered before bottling.
CSPC: 124082
Winemakers Note: The wine displays a brilliant pale straw colour. Aromas of fresh peach and marzipan interplay with lightly toasted brioche characters, subtle cinnamon and vanilla. The entry on the palate is vibrant with fresh pink grapefruit, appealing chalkiness and the lightest note of quince. The palate has a beautiful silky texture - testament to it being barrel aged on the lees – and a long finish. Food pairing: A perfect pairing with apricot and almond chicken tagine, with lemon and feta couscous, or served as an aperitif.
What the Critics are saying:
Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South
T: 403-971-1898
E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca
Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North
T: 780-203-5284
E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca
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TECHNICAL INFO
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
Climate: Moderate Mediterranean
Altitude: 150-215m
Soils: Deep, red volcanic soil
Varietal/Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.
Ageing: Aged in old oak puncheons.
Vineyard & Vine Age: Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.
ABV: 13.5%
Produced Cases: 50
CSPC: 124082
Calgary + Alberta South
Andrew Stewart
403-604-0408
andrew@vinoalvino.ca
Edmonton + Alberta North
Joe Gurba
780-203-5284
joe@vinoalvino.ca
Saskatoon + Saskatchewan South
Kerrie Gavin
306-290-0277
kerrie@vinoalvino.ca
