Bouchard Finlayson : Missionvale Chardonnay 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Missionvale Chardonnay 2022 by Bouchard Finlayson

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This wine displays a pale gold colour, both clear and bright, reflecting its youthful energy.

Nose
Initially discreet, the bouquet opens onto aromas of ripe pear, fresh citrus such as lemon, and stone fruit. Delicate floral notes intertwine with hints of fresh hay, quince and melon, along with a subtle touch of vanilla from the ageing process.

Palate
The palate reveals a silky texture along with a rich and generous mid-palate. Bright, refreshing acidity perfectly balances the ripe fruit flavours. The long, harmonious finish stands out with a fine phenolic bitterness reminiscent of lemon peel, along with a delicate hazelnut touch.

Food and Wine Pairings
This white wine pairs beautifully with seafood in creamy sauces, such as a shrimp stroganoff, but also complements salads with walnuts and apples, goat cheese, or grilled halloumi very well.

Serving and Cellaring
The Missionvale Chardonnay 2022 has fine ageing potential and is ideally enjoyed until around 2026.

The Pure Expression of a South African Chardonnay by Bouchard Finlayson

The Estate
Founded in 1989 by Peter Finlayson and Paul Bouchard, Bouchard Finlayson is a pioneering estate located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, in the Western Cape region. Today, the estate belongs to the Tollman family and is co-managed by Victoria Tollman and Peter Finlayson. Of the estate's 125 hectares, only around twenty are planted with vines, with the rest dedicated to preserving local biodiversity (fynbos), earning it WWF Conservation Champion status.

The Vineyard
The grapes come exclusively from the estate's own vines, located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This South African terroir benefits from cooling ocean breezes coming from Walker Bay, creating an ideal maritime climate for slow ripening. The soils, composed of clay and stony shale, place a natural constraint on the vines, encouraging moderate yields and great aromatic concentration.

The Vintage
The end of 2021 was marked by cold, very wet weather during flowering and fruit set, which delayed the harvest. However, January 2022 brought extremely hot and dry conditions. This contrast in weather allowed for slow, healthy ripening, resulting in a concentrated harvest, minimal disease pressure, excellent fruit quality with full phenolic ripeness, and low natural sugar accumulation.

Winemaking and Ageing
To craft the Missionvale Chardonnay 2022, 40% of the barrels completed fermentation spontaneously through indigenous yeasts, later supported by the addition of natural local yeasts. The ageing process stands out for its mixed approach: 8% of the wine fermented and aged for nine months in terracotta amphorae, while the rest was aged in French oak barrels. The wine was then bottled with light filtration in February 2023.

Grape Variety
100% Chardonnay