Kershaw Chardonnay Deconstructed Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY96
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Harvested from the western part of Elgin, the PN115 tends to have smaller berries and compact clusters resulting in wines that have aromatic integrity yet are dense with complex juicy black fruit.
- A firmer tannic structure make these wines seem more ‘masculine’ with flavors of black cherry, cassis, leather, tobacco and earth.
- It is grown in Table Mountain Sandstone, a mix of sand and pebbles that give delicacy and lifted fruity flavors.
- This wine was micro-vinified as a separate batch.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: The grapes were handpicked, sorted and destemmed. Then they were dropped uncrushed into small 500kg open-topped fermenters. The grapes underwent a 3-day maceration before spontaneous fermentation began. A gentle delestage program was charted, and the grapes remained on skins for up to 15 days. The wine was then racked to barrel under gravity and the remaining pomace basket pressed. Malolactic proceeded in barrel followed by a light sulphuring after which the wine was racked off malolactic lees and returned to clean barrels for an 11-month maturation. No fining, ricked and lightly filtered before bottling. Barreled in Burgundy and French oak.
Tasting Notes: A youthful nose is filled with bright Bing cherry, sweet spice and pine needles. The palate entry is elegant and delicately framed with pliant tannins and underpinned by vivacious acidity. The mid-palate has a sheen and feels silky smooth with notes of dark chocolate, cherry flesh, forest floor and freshly tilled soil. Linear in shape, the wine is dextrous and has an extended finish.
PRESS
2020- 93 Decanter
2021 – 95 Tim Atkin
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Richard Kershaw’s enthusiasm for wine evolved from his love of cooking. After working as a chef, he decided to develop his knowledge of wine by exploring the world’s great wine regions, including Bordeaux, California and Germany. After passing the WSET [The Wine & Spirit Education Trust] Master of Wine exam in 2011, Richard decided it was time to establish his own winery. And that’s exactly what he did. Richard started Kershaw Wines on the Western Cape, South Africa in 2012.
Richard has a dual approach to winemaking. On the one hand he believes in a non-interventionist style that allows the soil and the nuances of each varietal to tell their own story in a unique way. On the other hand, he and his team use a sophisticated and carefully developed set of calculations to determine when to harvest each plot and what type of barrels to use for the fermentation process. Every step on that journey is an example of both the art and the science of making great wine.