Ataraxia, Chardonnay 2023

Description

In the most accurate and faithful way possible, Ataraxia’s unapologetically wooded white wine mirrors the terroir in which their Chardonnay vines are grown. In other words, it is an expression of the low vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld Shale derived soils and the heavily maritime-influenced climate.

Made using uncomplicated (not simple) winemaking techniques, this is an athletic, chiseled and precise wine. It embraces the very adult tastes of salinity, brininess and minerality, all of which are the hallmarks of the great and classic white wines of the world.

Wine Style
This soil-driven Chardonnay is New World in provenance but Old World in stylistic leaning. Athletic in structure, it effortlessly manages to be both subtle and intense. It is vibrant and spicy, with alluring creamy notes. An assertive mineral acidity beautifully balances a compelling intensity of fruit. There is a surprising touch of “grip” to the finish deftly rounded off with complex savoury, briny, and flinty notes. A stylish, world-class Chardonnay.

Winemaker’s Notes
This vin de terroir is Ataraxia’s forward-looking BLACK Chardonnay. In our quest to accurately and authentically express the soul of our terroir (over trying to conjure an expression of the grape itself through winemaking alchemy), we first used this old, almost forgotten, traditional Burgundian method for the 2020 vintage, and have continued to do so ever since. Rather than pressing gently, the fruit was vigorously worked. It almost felt like an act of violence! Then, instead of denying the must (juice) oxygen, it was generously aerated. Black magic happened when juice as dark as ebony as it flowed from the press, was transformed into a shimmering, green tinted yellow hue by the end of fermentation. The science behind this method is that the more oxygen the must absorbs, the less oxygen is consumed by the wine, which then has more resistance against oxidative degradation (yellowing) during ageing.

Spontaneous and complete barrel fermentation and subsequent ageing in specially selected French oak barrels sourced exclusively from Burgundian coopers, comprised part of a gentle, minimalist, non-interventionist winemaking approach employed after the “bludgeoning” that occurred at the press. In this way we have crafted an astonishing and arrestingly authentic wine interpretation of a terroir ideally suited to Chardonnay.

Analysis
Alcohol = 13.21 vol% | Res Sugar = 2.4 g/l | Total Acidity = 7.4 g/l | pH = 3.27
Barrel Ageing = 11 months in 225L French oak barrels Wood Age = New 17%

Cases produced: 2 094 x 12 Bottled: January 2024 Release Date: February 2024

Additional information

Pair with grilled lobster tails and herb butter.