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Chardonnay is seen are a rather binary beastie. It’s either wooded…or it’s not. And Chardie fans either love one category or the other.

But as the world gets smaller, and winemaking influences from all over the globe begin cross-pollinating, we are starting to see that the possibilities for Chardonnay are far broader than our binary worldview currently allows.

Winemaker Johan Kruger is just one of a handful of winemakers trying to show us the beauty of those in between spaces. Like the Haut Collection Amphora Chardonnays, Kruger is using alternative fermentation vessels to bring texture and dimension to new world chardonnays that one might previously have deemed impossible without the complicating influence of good old oak.

This San Chene Chardonnay showcases both the surprising finesse of high altitude Swartland Chardonnay (did you ever think you’d hear those two words in the same sentence?!) along with the fascinating textural and sensory qualities possible when using concrete eggs during fermentation.

In this video we discuss the wine in the glass, talk a bit about the winemaking details, and learn about the vineyards from which the fruit is sourced.

If you have yet to sign up for your Monthly HanDrinksSolo Wine Subscription then you’ll have to hunt this wine down in your own time. But until then, here are my tasting notes and some technical specs:

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👃🏼 The nose managed to be both generous and restrained at the same time; Notes of gravel dust, lime leaf, white flowers, pear fruit, and citrus sherbet.

👄 On the palate, there is white peach and mandarin sherbet, segueing into a tail end that boasts a melange of peach fruit, tart grapefruit and an intriguing pop of dusty dried fynbos on the tail.

POssibly more arresting that the actual flavours on the palate are the delightful textural elements.

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🔬Wine of Origin Piekenierskloof. 100% Chardonnay, grown at 700m ASL. 40% Fermented in concrete eggs, and 60% fermented in Stainless Steel tanks. No yeast was added. Spontaneous ferment only. Wine was left on the gross lees for 5 months.