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CHARDONNAY HAMILTON RUSSELL VINEYARDS, SOUTH AFRICA
Hamilton Russell Vineyards - the most southerly wine estate in Africa and the closest to the sea - is located in the cool, maritime Walker Bay wine region, in a beautiful valley behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The estate specialises in producing highly individual, terroir driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the best in the New World.
Founder Tim Hamilton Russell purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare farm in 1975, after an exhaustive search for the most southerly site on which to make South Africa's top cool climate wines from a selection of noble varieties. His son Anthony, who took over in 1991, narrowed the range to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an Estate, committing to work only with grapes from their terroir. Extensive soil research initiated in 1994 identified 52 hectares of stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil as optimal for the individual, origin expressive style they aim for and all plantings have now been limited to this soil type.
Anthony and winemaker Hannes Storm are completely dedicated to expressing the personality of the Hamilton Russell Vineyards terroir in their wines. Tiny yields and strong worldwide demand keep their elegant, individual, estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in restricted supply.
HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY
Grapes: 100% Estate grow Chardonnay from 28 hectares of vines. The vines are divided into 18 individual vineyards, each with their own personality.
Winemaking: Fermented and matured in 228L, light-grained French oak barrels, with a medium to light toasting level. The percentage of wine undergoing malolactic fermentation, the percentage of new oak and the length of time in oak, varies with the nature of each harvest. Great care is taken in ensuring that the oak character is well integrated with the fruit character. Barrel aging for 2006 vintage was 7.5 months. Alc/vol 13.14%
Taste: A tight, minerally style of Chardonnay with classic Hamilton Russell vineyards length and complexity. The wine has bright, natural acidity and depth indicative of the extremely low yields used to produce this elegant wine. A prominent core of intense pear fruit aromas and flavours is brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of natural acid and a dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage
Serve: Chilled as an aperitif or to accompany white meats, shellfish, fish and creamy pasta dishes.
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