Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Residual Sugar 2.3 g/L
pH 3.53
Total Acidity 5.4 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Chardonnay
Chardonnay100%
Drinking Window 10+ years from vintage under ideal cellaring conditions
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Decomposed granite, Hutton and tukulu
Grapes Picked February 2020
Fermentation Vessels Oak Barrel
Pressing Method Whole Cluster
Malolactic Fermentation 100%
Oak Aging 15 months
Oak Details 70% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak70%
Oak Types Burgundian French Oak
Barrel Size 300L Hogsheads
Bottling Date July 2021
Fining Agents Isinglass, Bentonite
Production Details The Five Soldiers vineyard is named after five tall stone pine trees. Carefully selected Chardonnay bunches are hand harvested and given royal treatment in the cellar. The final product is a very complex full-bodied wine, approachable in its youth, however careful cellaring will exhibit the depth of the wine's complexity and will reward patience. The 2020 vintage was a good vintage produced under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic. The harvest was not impacted on Rustenberg by government-sanctioned lockdowns, allowing all fruit to be picked and processed when ripe. A good winter in 2019 saw a return to average rainfall. Two unusual weather events in the growing season, a large rainstorm and a heat wave, impacted some varietals flowering and berry set, however, in the context of the entire vintage these had a minor impact. Crop levels were up by 15% from the 2019 vintage, which saw a return to yields being average to slightly above average for most varietals. Quality wise, the white wines have superb acids and more moderate alcohols with wonderful fruit concentration, while the reds tend to be more medium-bodied with moderate alcohols, good freshness and supple tannins, potentially to be enjoyed earlier. Winemaking involved whole bunch pressing, fermentation in 300 Litre French Oak Hogshead Barrels with wild (uninoculated) yeast. Aged on lees for the duration of oak aging. 100% aged for 15 months. 100% malolactic fermentation. 70% new Burgundian 300L Hogsheads (remainder 2nd fill). Fining agents used were Isinglass & Bentonite.
Tasting Notes
ripe citrus, melon, peach, minerality, well-judged oaking, complex, long finish, creamy finish, good acid backbone
Critics Ratings Decanter World Wine Awards: Gold Medal
Decanter World Wine AwardsGold Medal
Winemag.co.za95
Tim Atkin SA Report93
Platter's Wine Guide92
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate91+
▸ Sources (1)
Producer Information
Website
Address
Rustenberg Wines, Rustenberg Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Phone
+27 21 809 1200
Email
Owner
Barlow Family (Simon, Rozanne, Murray)
Cellarmaster
Murray Barlow