Cap Maritime Coastal Chardonnay

Tasting note Cap Maritime Coastal Chardonnay

The Cap Maritime Coastal Chardonnay shines in the glass with a light golden yellow color and a refined, expressive nose full of ripe yellow fruit such as peach and melon, refreshing citrus accents, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, the wine presents itself elegantly and balanced, with fresh acids that merge beautifully with juicy flavors of green apple and citrus, while the creamy texture and delicate oak influence provide extra depth. The finish is long, clean, and slightly mineral, with a hint of spice that gives the wine a sophisticated and gastronomic character.

Food Pairing

Cap Maritime Coastal Chardonnay combines its fresh acidity and creamy texture beautifully with grilled fish, shellfish, or poultry in a light sauce. Creamy pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, and subtle Asian dishes with ginger or lemongrass are also perfectly balanced by its minerality and citrus accents.

Other information

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is located about twenty kilometers from Hermanus, the coastal town on Walker Bay that is also known as the ‘whale capital’ of South Africa. It is warm there, but it rarely gets warmer than thirty degrees during the growing season. This is due to the fresh sea breeze and the fact that the vineyards are generally located at higher altitudes. The perfect place for making wines, then.

After the harvest, the grapes are transported in refrigerated trucks to the Boekenhoutskloof cellars in Franschhoek, where they undergo a careful selection process. The grapes are pressed as whole bunches, after which the juice ferments in used barriques and concrete vats. During the 12-month maturation period, the lees are regularly stirred through the wine (batonnage).

Back home in Franschhoek, Marc Kent has made a name for himself with world-class wines such as Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which belong to the absolute elite of South Africa. But Kent has more strings to his bow. In addition to these flagship wines produced in limited quantities, he also makes exceptionally attractive wines under the Porcupine Ridge and The Wolftrap labels that are available to a wider audience. At a slightly higher level, The Chocolate Block certainly belongs in this category as well.

Wine scores/awards

• James Suckling awarded the 2023 vintage 90/100
• Natalie MacLean also gave the same vintage 90/100
• Boekenhoutskloof was named South Africa's best winery in the 2020 Platter's Wine Guide
• Head winemaker Gottfried Mocke was named Winemaker of the Year 2020 by Tim Atkin