2018 Restless River, Ava Marie Chardonnay, Hemel en Aarde, South Africa
Critics reviews
Tasted from a 20-cl sample bottle like all these Restless River samples so I am unable to cite the alcohol levels.
It has a much riper nose than the 2017 and is altogether a much better-balanced wine whose high acidity is nicely balanced by almost balletic slimline fruit. There is not an ounce of fat in this wine, but you could drink it already – and it should age well.
Drink 2020 - 2025
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (December 2020)
Aromas of roasted apricot, grilled pineapple, burnt lemon and salted caramel. Medium-bodied and buttery with tangy acidity. Intense, sun-kissed fruit and toast character. Excellent concentration and energy.
Drink now or hold
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (December 2022)
About this WINE
Restless River Wines
Craig Wessels, owner and winemaker of Restless River, descends from the first settled European to live in and farm the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and therefore intrinsically connects with the land. This cool climate region is only 5km away from the South Atlantic Ocean, reaching an altitude of more than 300 metres.
He runs the winery together with his wife, Anne, and since their first launch in 2012, Restless River has stunned all with wines that have reached internationally acclaim and are found on prestigious restaurant wine lists around the world.
Harvest for the 2019 Main Road and Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon lasted almost a month approximating from the end of March – early April. Every single grape is awarded care and attention, and in the winery, parcels are vinified separately. It spent 23 months maturing in barrel and is awarded the same time ageing in bottle before release.
Walker Bay
Walker Bay is a coastal wine district, located to the south-east of Capetown, near the town of Hermanus (of whale-watching fame).
Walker Bay has built its reputation on Pinot Noir, and best exemplified by the wines from the Bouchard-Finlayson & Hamilton-Russell estates.
Walker Bay has a cool, maritime climate. However vineyard virus and small scale production have prevented thsi wine region from competing effectively against the Pinot Noirs from New Zealand.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
Tasted from a 20-cl sample bottle like all these Restless River samples so I am unable to cite the alcohol levels.
It has a much riper nose than the 2017 and is altogether a much better-balanced wine whose high acidity is nicely balanced by almost balletic slimline fruit. There is not an ounce of fat in this wine, but you could drink it already – and it should age well.
Drink 2020 - 2025
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (December 2020)
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