2010 The Mentors, Chardonnay, KWV, Cape, South-Africa, Paarl

KWV* The Mentors’ offer celebrates the diversity of the soils and the climate that together influence the different styles of South African wines. The grapes used to develop these wines are made by specific site selection and a treatment and special care in the vineyard and cellar. The result? Wines without equal that reflect the best of everything South Africa has to offer. It is the absolute top range of the KWV.

Vineyards are hand pruned and harvested. Good pre-harvest moisture in the soil provided resistance against the late season heat waves. The grapes were left longer on the vine to ensure that optimal ripeness was reached at harvest.

The wine is a blend of 2 vineyards from the Elgin region and both components were fermented in barrel. 70% of the blend was fermented with an indigenous yeast strain to enhance the texture and mouth feel of the wine and the other 30% was inoculated with commercial yeast to ensure maximum cultivar derived fruit flavors and freshness. Only 20% of the wine was allowed to undergo partial malolactic fermentation to add complexity into the final blend.

Post-fermentation, the wine was left on extended lees contact for 80 days and stirred regularly during this period. Afterwards the wine was racked and placed back into French barrels for maturation during 9 months (50% new, 30% 2nd, 20% 3rd).

Production of 5300 bottles.

*Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging