Chardonnay 2020 – Lismore

The grapes to produce Chardonnay Lismore were picked at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 600 litres per tonne. The Chardonnay Lismore juice was cold settled for 48 hours and then racked into 225, 300 and 500 litre older Burgundian barrels for fermentation with wild yeasts. 5% of the barrels were new oak for the 2017 vintage. 20% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation allowing the wine to retain its original fruitiness and fresh acidity. Although the oak gives this wine its luxurious texture, the philosophy was to ensure the fruit, acidity and pH drove the wine’s flavour, rather than obtaining overt, extracted buttery notes from the oak.The Overberg region is rapidly earning a reputation for premium, cool climate grapes. Lismore is situated in Greyton, a designated ward, in recognition of the unique expression of terroir in the wines that are produced there. The Lismore Estate has a total of 12.5 hectares of vineyard, planted on slopes at the base of the Riviersonderend Mountain Range. The combination of elevation and climate make for an extended ripening period, which is approximately three to four weeks later than the more traditional wine growing areas in the Western Cape.In Lismore Estate Vineyards the Californian Samantha O’Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir. Hidden at the foot of a spectacular mountain range in the lower part of Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born next to its nascent family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 meters, cooled by winter snow and fed by the African summer sun, produces classic wines, with a fresh climate, rich, complex and handcrafted.