Iona
33,50 €
Le Riche Chardonnay 2023
Le Riche Chardonnay 2023
Manufacturer: Le Riche
Chardonnay at its best. Our favorite wine from a winery that otherwise specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon. The colour of the wine is golden yellow with greenish highlights and perfect viscosity. On the nose we find traces of citrus, almonds and light touches of oak barrel. On the palate, it is more reminiscent of our European style thanks to its elegance, great acidity and incredibly long layers of flavours. It's a wine that will go head to head with Burgundian village wines, and which pairs well with gastronomy.
Matouš Forman 91
2023 / 0.75l / 14% / Stellebosch - South Africa
About the winery
A tiny winery based in the heart of the best region - Stellenbosch, Le Riche is considered one of the leading ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon producers and their aim is to create the perfect reflection of the Cabernet Sauvignon from the local terroir. They select only the finest grapes from unique vineyards grown by long-established farmers, which are then subjected to a special sorting process.
At the heart of this is an inherent knowledge and respect for the terroir, particularly the soil, and a winemaking skill that is both traditional and innovative. "Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety that is unforgiving. It must be treated with respect and cared for with an understanding that is the result of years of training and work. If done correctly, the result is a wine with powerful yet refined and elegant tannins. Finding this balance is a true art." Owner of the winery - Christo Le Riche
Terroir
Stellenbosch lies just 40 km east of Cape Town. The Simonsberg Mountains to the north separate it from Paarl, while the Hottentot Holland Mountains to the east separate it from Walker Bay. False Bay lies about 12 miles (20 km) to the south.
Granite and sandstone soils are found throughout Stellenbosch. Due to their high clay content, they have excellent water retention properties, although they are free draining. Sufficient winter rainfall allows growers to keep irrigation to a minimum. Much has been made of the suitability of the soils in Stellenbosch for growing particularly premium red wine grapes.
The climate in the area is relatively hot and dry, although the influence of the False Bay sea is evident in the south. In the afternoons, the vineyards are buffeted by a cool south-easterly wind, which refreshes the grapes after the hot morning sun. White wine varieties are often planted closer to the ocean where this effect is more pronounced.
Recommended wine pairings
Le Riche Chardonnay 2023
