Grapes for the 2010 La Motte Chardonnay originate from La Motte, Franschhoekvallei. The vineyard lies 200 metres above sea- level and is planted against a southern and south western slope.

Veterans in the wine industry described 2010 as one of the most difficult in their career. Winter conditions were not ideal for good budding. Cold and rain hampered budding further and, together with wind, bunch denseness was severely impeded. Wind caused physical damage, late rains caused fungus diseases, while late dry conditions reduced the already light yield even further. The 2010 Chardonnay grapes were harvested between 15 February and 2 March at different degrees of ripeness.

The vineyard is managed to maintain a perfect balance between leaf coverage and yield. It is managed organically and is SGS-certified.

All the bunches were whole-pressed and the juice received a reasonable measure of oxidative treatment. The clean juice was transferred to 300-litre French oak barrels where it was inoculated with yeast and fermented at between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius. Malolactic fermentation was also in the barrels. One third of the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks). After fermentation the lees was stirred regularly over a period of eleven months. 30% of the barrels in which the wine was matured were new. The components were blended subsequent to maturation and the wine was bottled in the La Motte cellar on 2 June 2011. After eight months of bottle maturation, 5 000 cartons (6 x 750 ml) were released as 2010 La Motte Chardonnay.

The wine has a real fruit basket nose including framed in a straw and cashew nuts background. Hints of marmalade and citrus blossoms make it even more complex. A fairly low alcohol and firm acid should already tell you that the grapes were harvested with a fresh, structured wine in mind – a wine which is dominating the oak in which it matured for 12 months. pineapple and nectarine

Alcohol 12,8 % vol,
Residual sugar 2,0 g/l,
Total acid 6,1 g/l,
pH 3,42