Aaldering Estate Chardonnay 2024 Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Aaldering may be best known for reds, but its whites are made with the same care. Senior winemaker Jaco Parson, who joined in 2016, keeps intervention low and lets the estate’s cool, granite-soil site do the talking. The Chardonnay is a quietly ambitious wine that rewards a closer look.

The Chardonnay grows on a three-hectare block planted in 2008, southwest-facing at 110 to 160 metres on decomposed granite. It is fermented and matured in French oak, a quarter of it new, for nine months on the lees, and taken through malolactic fermentation for extra breadth. The result is textured but never heavy.

2024 began with even budding after a cold, wet winter, then a coolish growing season that preserved flavour and kept natural acidity fresh. Aaldering rates it a great vintage for winemakers, if a testing one for growers. That cool character shows in a Chardonnay with lively energy under its richer notes.

Pale golden straw in the glass. Lemon zest and peach blossom lead the nose, with hazelnut and buttered toast underneath and a clear mineral thread. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, its opulent mouthfeel underscored by fine, grippy texture and acidity that adds length. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees; enjoy now or over the next few years.

This sits in a restrained, food-friendly camp, closer to white Burgundy than to a rich, buttery New World Chardonnay. It pairs beautifully with the fatty richness of seared salmon or tuna, and holds up to creamy chicken dishes. A well-made white for a dinner party or an unhurried lunch.