Iona Chardonnay Elgin Highlands 2022

Iona Chardonnay Elgin Highlands 2022

Manufacturer: Iona

A stylish Burgundy wine with bright aromas of citrus, white stone fruit, oyster minerality and a hint of brioche. It's not just us who think so, but it was also the best Chardonnay in Decanter's 2024 evaluation, and that's some achievement. The purity of the fruit, combined with well-used oak barrel and bright crisp acidity, make for a wine that is layered and complex with a long finish. The vines range in age from 9-15 years. This wine was 100% wild fermented in selected 300l and 228l French oak barrels (22% new, the rest in used barrels) and only 12% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The absolute essence of Chardonnay perfection from South Africa.

Decanter Awards 97

2022 / 0.75l / 13% / Elgin - South Africa

In stock

33,50 € with VAT

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About the winery

At the southern tip of Africa, along the southern coast of the Cape, is South Africa's coolest wine region, the Elgin Valley, and in it the Iona winery. which has gotten not only us, but a lot of the world's critics. Their Chardonnay won "Best in show" in the UK's Decanter magazine, which is considered the best in the world. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, unique vineyards planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties lie along the southern ridge at an altitude of 420m. The combination of the short distance from the freezing Atlantic Ocean and the rapid rise in altitude causes clouds to form on summer days. This protects the grapes from the African sun - filtered sunlight penetrates the treetops - and results in slow ripening with perfect acidity, moderate alcohol and beautifully developed flavours.

The winery owns and manages all of its vineyards, believing that great wines are grown in the vineyard. Their deep trust in the way they farm allows them to adopt natural winemaking practices in the cellar with minimal use of sulfur, commercial yeasts, enzymes and filtration. The goal is to produce wines that represent the uniqueness of each vintage and celebrate a true sense of terroir.

 

Snímek obrazovky 2024-09-09 v 14.24.43

Terroir

Elgin is a wine region in South Africa, known for its exceptional cool climate wines, located across False bay from Cape Town. This region is particularly suited to aromatic varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which thrive in cool conditions and produce wines of rich flavour and complexity with incredible freshness and an almost 'European' character.

Elgin is located in a basin surrounded by the Hottentots-Holland mountain range and separated from the famous Stellenbosch region to the north. The cool climate, influenced by the nearby South Atlantic Ocean - just 12 kilometres away - plays a significant role in shaping the character of the wines here.

Furthermore, the valley is characterised by a gently undulating landscape which offers a variety of sites for planting vineyards. In addition, there are various soil types, including gravel, sandstone, clay and weathered shale, which contribute in a unique way to the region's distinctive terroir.

Snímek obrazovky 2024-09-09 v 14.26.38

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Iona Chardonnay Elgin Highlands 2022

Iona Chardonnay Elgin Highlands 2022

34 € with VAT