Bouchard Finlayson : Crocodile's Lair Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Crocodile's Lair Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2023 from Bouchard Finlayson

Tasting notes

Appearance
This South African white wine displays a bright, luminous robe, revealing a pale yellow hue with subtle silvery and green highlights that testify to its remarkable freshness.

Nose
Beautifully complex, the nose opens with delicate aromas of white flowers and lime, closely intertwined with mineral notes of flint and warm stone. As it airs, it unveils more indulgent fragrances of yellow peach, pear and honeyed candied citrus, subtly underscored by hints of toasted bread, rye and toasted almond.

Palate
The palate captivates with its perfect balance between a silky texture and a lively mineral tension. Flavours of stone fruit and lemon unfold generously, carried by a precise and refreshing acidity. The long, vibrant finish stretches out on noble bitter notes reminiscent of citrus zest.

Food and wine pairings

This Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with seafood, such as a shellfish platter, oysters or a delicate fish served with a creamy lemon sauce. It also enhances white meats, roast poultry, as well as vegetarian dishes such as a fresh herb salad, avocado or gently spiced Asian cuisine.

Serving and cellaring

The Crocodile's Lair Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2023 can be enjoyed now for its vibrant fruit, but it will continue to develop its complexity in the cellar and can be savoured until around 2029.

The purity and tension of a South African Chardonnay

The estate

Founded in 1989 by Peter Finlayson and Paul Bouchard, the Bouchard Finlayson estate is a pioneer of the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, in the Western Cape of South Africa. Now owned by the Tollman family, this family-run farm covers 125 hectares, of which only 25 are dedicated to vines. The rest of the estate is devoted to preserving local biodiversity, which has earned it the status of WWF Conservation Champion. The estate is renowned worldwide for its cool-climate wines, combining the expression of the South African terroir with a Burgundian-inspired philosophy.

The vineyard

This wine comes exclusively from the isolated Kaaimansgat vineyard, nestled at 700 metres of altitude in the Elands Kloof valley, within the Overberg region. This mountainous terroir with stony soils benefits from a particularly cool microclimate. Autumn temperatures are so low that they delay the ripening of the grapes by about a month compared to other wine regions of the country, thus encouraging a slow concentration of aromas and the preservation of a beautiful natural acidity.

The vintage

The year was marked by a moderate climatic season, offering a slow and even ripening of the berries. However, rainfall in February called for heightened vigilance and rigorous manual sorting during the harvest to keep only perfectly healthy fruit. This meticulous selection led to yields below the usual averages, in return favouring an exceptional aromatic concentration of the grapes.

Winemaking and ageing

The vinification of the Crocodile's Lair Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2023 follows an approach that respects the fruit. After fermentation, this wine from South Africa is aged for seven months in 350-litre French oak barrels, of which 21% are new wood. In order to preserve all the tension, straightforwardness and minerality of this high-altitude terroir, no lees stirring is carried out during ageing.

Grape variety

Chardonnay (100%).