Yardstick Chardonnay 2015

Yardstick has evolved in language slightly; in the good old days when a metre was just something Jazz musicians ignored, a yardstick was a physical object. Think of a ruler... just longer. These days however, sensible nations do seem set on the metric system (*cough* sorry America) meaning yardstick is a bit more of an abstract term, a standard to judge the success or value of something.

That's why this wine is named so aptly; it demonstrates the evolution of South African Chardonnays, from over-oaked and over-ripe, to wines such as this, delicate with subtle use of oak giving the wine balance and finesse. If this is the yardstick were judging South African Chardonnays by there's no doubt this wine is in front of the rest.

Adam Mason Postulates winemaking begins with the identification of sites that will yield the correct style of grapes for the intended wine. In the case of Yardstick, it requires continental sites at fairly high altitude, 750m-850m above sea level. Whole bunch pressing follows, with no sulphur addition until the juice is in the settling tank, and then only a small addition of 20ppm. Overnight racking to older, neutral barrels for fermentation with the inclusion of 10-20% new French oak barrels. No yeasts are added, using the native yeasts present to ferment the wine. Once dry, the wine is sulphured and malolactic fermentation thus prevented. This assists in preserving slightly higher levels of natural acidity. Maturation of approximately 10 months in barrel follows, until the wines are pulled out and prepared for bottling. The wine shows Lively golden yellow in appearance. Nose of ripe quinces, vanilla pod and freshly sliced yellow-cling peaches. These elements are kept in check by a savoury, chalky note that maintains a prominent level of freshness. The palate is rich, with mineral texture, and although it has elements of ripeness and power, it is well balanced by a core of acidity that holds it all together very well, and results in a long-lasting finish.