Delaire Graff Banghoek Chardonnay 2022
An elegant Chardonnay with nuances of vanilla, peaches and honeycomb complemented by a hint of minerality on the lingering finish.
The grapes come from Delaire Graff Estate’s mountain vineyards. The vines have an average age of 14 years and are trellised on a five-wire Perold system, a form of a vertical trellis which helps to protect the vines from wind damage. The climate is Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers, which are mitigated by the cooling sea breezes from the Atlantic, resulting in a slower ripening process encouraging natural balancing acidity to balance the concentrated fruit flavours. The terroir is made up of Hutton leaf soils, which are derived from granite and have good physical and water retention properties. The vineyards are cultivated sustainably and are certified by IPW. The grapes were handpicked in the early hours over various ripening periods. Picking criteria was based on flavour to ensure optimal sugar concentration and balance of acidity.
Extensive bunch sorting of the grapes formed part of the quality management process. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented for 14 days. Maturation took place in 225-litre French barrels for 10 months, of which 40% were new. No bâtonnage or malolactic fermentation took place, in order to retain freshness.
| RRP | £35.50 |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Awards | Best in Show Chardonnay Trophy, DWWA, 2024; 93 Pts, Tim Atkin MW, 2024 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Subregion | Stellenbosch |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 2.5 |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Delaire Graff is a jewel in the Cape Winelands, located in the historic Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch. Originally a farm named Avontuur, the estate was purchased by the well-known wine writer John Platter in 1982, who renamed it Delaire meaning ‘From the Sky’ due to the magnificent views. In 2003, Laurence Graff OBE acquired the estate and following a six-year redevelopment programme, he transformed the estate into Delaire Graff: an iconic producer of world-class wines and a luxury boutique estate. The meticulous efforts of the teams under the guidance of viticulturist Kallie Fernhout and winemaker Morné Vrey skilfully craft their award-winning wines from the unique terroir on the crest of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass. The grapes are grown on high-altitude terraces on the steep slopes of Botmaskop Mountain, which are cooled by sea breezes from the Atlantic. The wines show outstanding purity, which has become the hallmark of Delaire Graff wines. Delaire Graff was classed as First Growth in 2022 by Tim Atkin MW, and is ranked 36th by the World's Best Vineyards 2023.
