Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the dedication to quality winemaking continues under the guidance of 8th generation, Hannes Myburgh. Cellar Master, Chris Williams, who has worked on the estate since 1995 and overseen winemaking since 2004. The name Meerlust means “pleasure of the sea”, as the property is situated 5km from False Bay (and 15km south of Stellenbosch), with the cooling influence of the coast, allowing the grapes ripen slowly.

Sourced from 4 vineyards on the Estate situated on well drained Oakleaf, Dundee and Swartland soil types which produces the rich textured mouth feel and minerality. The vineyards are mostly south facing towards the cool Atlantic of False Bay. Hand-picked, partial whole bunch pressing and static settling overnight. Some solids remained in the juice. Transferred to 40% new tight grain Allier French Oak and 60% second fill 300 litre barrels for fermentation. Half of the barrels were inoculated with selected Chardonnay yeast, while the other half underwent spontaneous fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was given a racking to remove heavy lees and returned to barrel for malolactic conversion. The wine was barrel matured for 9 months before bottling.

Tasting Note:
This is a very bright and polished wine. This has a pale golden colour, and an intense nose of fresh brioche, and toasted bread, along with cloves, nutmeg and fine vanilla bean. The palate here is linear, focused and complex. Full-bodied and round with citrus, pear, spiced mango, lemon curd and pineapple flavours, along with ripe apricots, vanilla, baking spice. All is well-balanced by that mouth-watering acidity, and there is texture and an almost saline minerality. This really is a well-made oaky Chardonnay, and not at all like biting on a big piece of wood, it's super classy and has a long, very pleasant lingering finish.