Bacco Estate, Chardonnay 2024

Description

Bacco’s small planting of Chardonnay on beautiful red clay soils layered with ferricrete and quartz rock, yields complex, defined fruit.  The quality of this meticulously managed young block continues to impress with each passing vintage, and 2024 was no exception.

IN THE VINEYARD
Bacco’s 1.6 ha of Chardonnay vines are planted on sandy topsoil with a hard red clay subsoil, koffieklip deposits and scattered quartz. 2024 is the third vintage from this block planted in 2019, so the vines are only now starting to come into full production. Pruning in winter left one bud per shoot. During the growing season, the vineyard was monitored for stress and we managed to ensure optimal balance between fruit, vigour and canopy. Grapes were picked early morning on 19 January 2024 – the first grapes to enter the winery. The quality of the block was excellent and so was the yield, a generous 8 tonnes.

IN THE CELLAR
Grapes were kept in the cold room overnight, and the following morning they were crushed and de-stemmed directly into the press. The free-run juice was pumped into a stainless steel tank to settle overnight. The press juice was collected and pumped into a separate tank to settle overnight. Once the juice had settled, it was racked into barrels to undergo alcoholic fermentation – once again the free-run and press fractions were kept separate. Fermentation lasted approximately 14 days. The wine then underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel. Battonage was done twice a week for 3 weeks to create a full, textured mouthfeel. Finally, the wine spent 10 months in oak before release. Bacco use a combination of 30% new, 8% second-fill, 15% third-fill and 47% neutral barrels.

IN THE BOTTLE
This fresh yet moreish medium-bodied white wine has an enticing nose of pineapple, buttery pastry and honeysuckle. The palate opens up more flavours with Golden Delicious apple, poached pear,
candied lemon and a hint of almond. A fresh mineral finish balances the rich fruit and contributes to a long, satisfying aftertaste.

Lovely served well chilled on its own or with porchetta and braised fennel, herb-crusted fish, mature cheeses, cured meats, and seafood risotto.

Technical Analysis
Alc: 13% | pH: 3.50 | TA: 5.56g/l | VA: 0.74g/l | RS: 2.8g/l

Additional information

Lovely served well chilled on its own or with porchetta and braised fennel, herb-crusted fish, mature cheeses, cured meats, and seafood risotto.