Good Hope Chardonnay 2021

Good Hope Chardonnay, Un-oaked, dry Chardonnay, less stirred, texture, fresh stone fruits, notes of bruised apple, delightful. It is always pleasant to taste a wine and then be surprised when you are told the price and Good Hope Chardonnay is such a wine. From mature, trellised vineyards right on the bank of the Breede River the Chardonnay grapes are selected from four vineyard blocks, on a gentle slope, bedded on several metres of large, oval sandstone river stones. Generally a hot region, this spot benefits in fact from the moderating factor of the river, as well as an altitude of 350 – 370m above sea level. Green harvest thinning is carried out sufficiently early in the growing cycle, allowing for focused development of a smaller yield (around 55hl/ha) than customary in this region. Attention is paid to retaining natural acidity and minerality whilst manipulating the canopy to promote phenolic ripeness, without developing high sugars and thus excessive alcohol. The grapes are vinified with minimum skin contact, using free run juice only and reductively handled to obtain fresh, clear juice. After a cool fermentation in stainless steel tank the wine is kept on lees for 2 months, with regular batonnage. Overall the focus is on fruit retention, natural amplification of flavours through lees work and fresh, natural minerality and acidity. Crunchy apple flavours, a hint of flint with good length, it is hopefully good value and then some. Try it blind next to your ‘it was a bargain’ from the supermarket Chablis, this would likely win hands down!

The Winery of Good Hope is a superb winery based in Somerset West in South Africa.

The winery was founded in 1998 with a commitment to high quality, great value and respect for their environment. The winery produces wines under three brands, Radford Dale, their flagship wines, Vinum, a second label and the house range Good Hope, a name which reflects the origins of its region and the outlook of the winery. Although entry level in price, the wines from Good Hope have no less quality and attention to detail as the other wines from the estate, you taste the quality and are then surprised by the price. The fruit is sourced from the Helderberg area in Stellenbosch, Elgin, and the Perderberg area in the Swartland. The focus is on as natural a production as possible although the vineyards are not certified organic. Their aim is to follow a few guiding principles in the production. They grow healthy vines by focusing on vine health and the development of the plant’s own immunity, they are bug-friendly and promote beneficial microorganisms and, in so doing, decrease the effect of nasty ones, they use birds of prey rather than poison to keep the rodents from uprooting the vines. Finally they are down to earth and have implemented a composting programme that’s gradually replaced the need for fertiliser. The wine making process is non-interventionist, allowing spontaneous ferments with native yeast, and keeping the sulphur level down. These are great wines, they have the fruity vibrancy of the New World with an honest sense of the ground and the grape variety. The Pinot Noir is the best from the New World we have tried at this price and makes for a great alternative to Burgundy on a budget. The Syrah, Chenin and a blockbuster of an un-oaked Chardonnay make up this excellent value mixed case. We hope you enjoy them.