Redamancy Vineyards Brave Chardonnay 2024 Cape South Coast, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Redamancy Vineyards is the shared project of Marc van Uytvanck and Antoinette Rapitsi, who make small quantities of hand-crafted wine on the strength of care rather than scale. This bottling is named Brave after one of their two Golden Retrievers, a fitting tribute given how central the dogs are to the couple’s story.

Brave is 100% Chardonnay from the Cape South Coast, a cool, maritime zone where sea breezes keep the fruit fresh and finely balanced. It is the top tier of the Redamancy whites, given a richer, barrel-influenced style with gentle, lightly toasted oak, while natural-yeast fermentation keeps it characterful. The aim is a Chardonnay with presence that still feels bright rather than heavy.

2024 tested Cape growers with a wet, stormy winter before a dry, warm and windy summer that kept disease at bay. Whites, often picked ahead of any harvest rain, came in especially well, showing fresh flavour and generous texture. Those are exactly the qualities a cool-climate Chardonnay like this wants from a growing year.

Fresh citrus zest leads on the nose, layered with ripe stone fruit, white peach and a touch of mango. The palate is luxurious and creamy, that citrus and stone fruit carrying through alongside subtle vanilla and lightly toasted oak. At just 12.5%, refreshing acidity lifts the richness into a long, elegant finish. Lovely with roast chicken, creamy pasta or grilled prawns; serve well chilled.

The Brave name carries real pedigree: the 2023 vintage earned four and a half stars in the Platter’s guide and a double gold from Gilbert & Gaillard. This is Cape Chardonnay in the fuller, food-friendly mould, closer to a lightly oaked white Burgundy than a lean, unoaked style. A generous, confident white for a table you have set with care.