GlenWood, Grand Duc Chardonnay 2024
GlenWood Estate is in the Robertsvlei Valley, close to Franschoek in the Western Cape. Their wines are multi-award winning and have become synonymous with incredible quality and diligent winemaking.
This Chardonnay had its fruit picked and whole-bunch pressed. The juice was left to settle for two days and transferred to barrel, where it fermented for fourteen days, before ageing for a further twenty months on its lees in French oak.
This process creates a wine that is utterly exceptional. It is rich and layered with notes of rich vanilla and ripe pineapple. Full and creamy on the palate with a vanilla toasty note from gentle use of oak and marmalade and citrus notes on the length. Absolute indulgence, and well-deserving of its huge critical acclaim.
£41.15
Franschhoek
Chardonnay
Bone-drySweet
Description
WINEMAKERS COMMENTS
Straw yellow in colour. Apple crumble, lemon meringue, marzipan and brioche coated by oak spice. Ripe yellow apple and marmalade amplified by oak spice. High oak extraction will benefit from further cellaring.
VINTAGE
The 2024 Franschhoek harvest was marked by a challenging season of heavy winter rainfall, spring flooding and persistent winds that reduced yields significantly, but ultimately produced wines of excellent quality with vibrant acidity and concentrated fruit.
VITICULTURE
Vine age: 28 Years
Density: 4000 vines per hectare
Yield: 6 tons per hectare
A low canopy allowed optimal sunlight penetration. Minimal irrigation was used. The fruit ripened slowly allowing the development of small bunches with highly concentrated flavours.
VITIFICATION
Grapes were picked at 24.7°B and wholebunch pressed to 1.4 bars of pressure. The juice was left to settle for two days and racked to barrel. Using only wild yeast, fermentation occurred over an 14- day period. The wine spent 20 months on the lees in 100% new 500L French oak barrels.
ANALYSIS
Alcohol 14%
Total Acidity 5.3 g/l
Residual Sugar 3.0 g/l
pH 3.60
PRODUCTION
3700 x 750ml bottles
Additional information
| Grape | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Wine Farm | |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Origin | Franschhoek |
- Seafood and Shellfish
- Grilled Lobster or Seared Scallops: The wine's rich, buttery texture and crisp acidity cut through the natural sweetness and richness of shellfish.
- Pan-Seared Halibut or Salmon: Richer fish in a light butter or cream reduction complement the wine's toasty oak and tropical fruit profile.
- Poultry and White Meats
- Roast Chicken with Herbs: Perfect with white roasts, the vanilla and toasty notes from 20 months in French oak mirror savory, roasted poultry flavours.
- Pork Tenderloin: The full-bodied palate handles the mild fat content of pork without overwhelming the delicate citrus and marmalade aftertaste.
- Pasta and Vegetarian Options
- Fettuccine Alfredo or Mushroom Risotto: Creamy and cheese-based sauces match the luxurious, creamy mouthfeel of the wine.
3 reviews for GlenWood, Grand Duc Chardonnay 2024
Location
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Silver Medal (91 points) | International Wine & Spirits Competition 2026
“Delicate aromas of apricots and tropical mango lead to a creamy, rounded palate rich with bright pineapple and warm, intense oak. The long, toasty finish adds complexity and depth. “
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2026 –
Double Gold Medal | Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2026
“Straw yellow. Apple crumble, lemon meringue, marzipan and brioche coated by oak spice. Ripe yellow apple and marmalade amplified by oak spice. High oak extraction will benefit from further cellaring.”
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91 points | Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2026
“Grand Duc is something of a throwback in style to the wines that the New World, especially California, made in the 1990s, but there’s nothing wrong that, which is why this Chardonnay has its fans. Fermented in first-use barrels, followed by full malolactic, it’s a rich, textured wine with ample concentration, sweet spices and layers of butterscotch and apricot underpinned by acidity. 2026-30”
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