Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2020

Hemel-en-aarde Ridge; 100% unbewässerte Reben aus den La Vierge Babylon Vineyards; Ausbau 24% in Amphoren, 18% in Edelstahl, 58% in französischer Eiche, 228 l Barriques von Francois Freres (100 % Tight Grain, kein neues Holz), jeweils für 6 Monate gelagert; 50% malolaktische Gärung; 13,0 % vol (eigentlich 12,75); 1,6 g/l Restzucker; 7,3 g/l Säure. Produktion: nur 574 x 6er Kisten.

-Notizen von Berene Sauls: „A bright, tight and pure Chardonnay with lifted primary fruit character and notes of citrus blossom, sweet lemon grass and lees spice with a fine dusty minerality, introduce a long, gentle palate, again very expressive but also deliciously classical and restrained. This is a graceful and age-worthy wine with an almost crystalline purity.“

- 93 Punkte VINOUS, Neal Martin (11/2021): „The 2020 Chardonnay has a wonderful bouquet, quite backward at first but revealing apple blossom, citrus fruit and touches of nectarine. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, orange peel and yellow plum flavors, and touches of ginger toward the finish, which displays superb depth. Tesselaardal, founded by Berene Sauls in 2015, can add another wine to their list of classy Chardonnays.“

- 93 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Anthony Mueller: „An instant success, the 2020 Chardonnay burst from the glass with bright citrus, lemon pastry cream, yellow apple and hints of crème brûlée with brown baking spices. Medium-bodied, the palate explodes with mouthwatering acidity, framed by ripe citrus and pomaceous fruit tones while showing a balanced mid-palate. Persistent flavors of white peach, lemon drop and wax melon drive the long-lingering and ever-evolving finish. It's an absolutely delicious wine that I cannot wait to retry in 10 years' time. Bravo!“

- 93 Punkte OWEN BARGREEN: „I love top South African produces that show great terroir. For years I have admired the wines of Tesselaarsdal. The winery was founded by longtime Hamilton Russell employee Berene Sauls. Sauls initially joined Hamilton Russell Vineyards in February 2001 as an au pair at the age of 19. She soon moved to an administrative position and quickly got involved in the much more complicated administration linked to wine exports: labeling as well as the warehousing of the estate’s wines. She named her winery after a historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal, located near the Hemel-en-Aade Ridge wine appellation.
Berene employs a reductive approach to her Chardonnay that makes it rich and viscous, yet very bright. She employs Hamilton Russell winemaker Emul Ross to make her wines and grape purchases are secured with Babylon Vineyards. The new 2020 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay (OB, 93) is a dream to enjoy right now with a long finish and bright acidity.
2020 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay- Shining brightly, this 2020 Chardonnay has intense acidity with crisp Gala apple, wet stone, white peach and shades of vanilla cream on the palate. Wait for the very long finish with minerals and cream. Beautifully textured and full-bodied, with some serious heft, this outstanding new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033.“

- 92 Punkte GREG SHERWOOD: “Berene Sauls is a testament to hard work, belief, faith, and a simmering vision for greatness. I feel so utterly privileged to be one of the wine trade professionals who tasted her early vintages and identified her passion and vision.
But making a top Pinot Noir was never going to be enough for her so roll on the challenge of making a premium Chardonnay. The maiden 2019 was pretty impressive with its steely tension and crystalline purity. But of course it’s always the second release, the second album, that is always the hardest challenge. I recently tasted the second release from Berene and was SUITABLY IMPRESSED!
Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2020, WO Hemel en Aarde Ridge:
This is another accomplished Chardonnay from Tesselaarsdal that boasts a breath and depth of textural opulence making the maiden 2019 vintage look more like a chiselled Premier Cru Chablis in comparison. The 2020 nose boasts classic notes of spicy yellow citrus, green honeydew melon, white peach and a bold limestone mineral vein. The wine coats your mouth with a fine glycerol weight and delicious mouth-watering green apple pastille notes enlivened with pronounced tangy acids. Seamless and harmonious, Berene Sauls has created another attractive expression of premium Chardonnay that is ready to drink on release.“

- VINOUS, Neal Martin (4/2021): „The 2020 Chardonnay Tesselaarsdal includes partial whole bunch, fermented in amphorae. The lovely nose of almond, marzipan, dried honey and chamomile is beautifully defined. The palate is very well balanced, with a fine bead of acidity, and citrus fresh, offering orange peel and light chai tea notes toward the finish. Very fine.“

- JoS, verkostet im Februar 2023: „Mittleres Strohgelb, strahlend; angenehmer, eleganter, feiner Duft mit Aromen von Zitrusfrüchten, weißen Blüten, sanft geröstete Mandeln, mit Luft kommen immer mehr gelbe Früchte zum Vorschein, Orangenschale, rosa Grapefruit, Kumquat, reife Birne, nicht ganz reife Ananas; am Gaumen kraftvoll, mit frischer Säure, sehr mundwässernd, intensiv, engmaschig, sehr präzise, auch mineralisch-salzig, fein- cremig und eher mittelgewichtig, komplex, Mineralien, interessant, vielschichtig und sehr lang, frischer und sehr angenehmer Rückgeschmack. Spannend! Profitiert sehr von Luft, daher unbedingt Dekantieren und nicht zu kalt aus einem Burgunderglas (Tipp Riedel Vinum Serie) genießen. Hat mit zunehmender Flaschenreife im Vergleich zu einer Verkostung vor einem Jahr etwas an Körper, Textur und Komplexität zugelegt. Ein wunderschöner Chardonnay!“

- ENVOYERFINEWINES.COM: „The most impressive new Chardonnays we have tasted in this price range and highly recommended for fans of mineral-driven Chardonnay.“