Glenelly, Glass Collection Chardonnay, 2020

The Glass Collection Chardonnay from Glenelly has a bright and brilliant colour with a slightly green hue. The wine has complex aromas of citrus, lime zest, marmalade and melon. On the palate, there is a beautiful, rounded, comforting texture with wonderful length, intense fruit complexity and a minerally, oyster shell finish. South African Chablis.

The Glenelly Glass Collection is named after May-Eliane de Lencquesaing's collection of nearly 1,000 rare pieces of glass, dating from 50BC to today, from the Middle East, Syria, Lebanon, Rome, Prague, Venice, Germany, England, Sweden, France and the USA. Glass and wine have lot in common: they both come from poor material and poor soils, and through man's talent and genius they become works of art.

The grapes for the Glenelly Glass Collection Chardonnay were lightly crushed and gently pressed and the juice was transferred to two stainless steel fermenters where it underwent a spontaneous fermentation thanks to wild yeasts. The wine was not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation but it was left on its lees until bottling took place.

Well for starters it's just so well balanced and clean. When we first tasted it the likeness to Chablis was unmistakeable and the freshness really brought the palate to life. Considering the price of Chablis these days this is a great alternative.

From Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages:

2009 was the first vintage of all Glenelly's own reds, 2010 was the first white vintage. Winemaker Heinrich Loew used to work at Rustenberg, and Angelus, and Fieuzal and Screaming Eagle. Ambient yeast. Pale greenish gold. Quite broad and very fruity but with attractive finish. Good balance and lively wet-stony finish. Just the job. 16.5 Points

• ❖ ABV: 13.5%