'A Chardonnay benchmark' (CE): Restless River Ava Marie 2021
'A Chardonnay benchmark' (CE): Restless River Ava Marie 2021
Restless River Ava Marie 2021
‘A Chardonnay benchmark’
‘...their credentials as one of the country’s most prestigious producers now surely beyond doubt.’ – Christian Eedes
There’s a captivating confidence in Craig Wessels’ approach to winemaking. He’s happy to go against the grain, yet he embraces listening – learning as much as possible from others far and wide, leading to a set of releases marked by honest craftsmanship.
The Ava Marie Chardonnay 2021 is rightly called a benchmark by Christian Eedes. It’s as fine as ever, showing definition, linearity, and length. Our recent visit started with the Ava Marie 2013 and it was simply brilliant, proving beyond doubt the potential of this wine, and great vintages like 2021. This is a Chardonnay to cellar!
Hangtime is of particular importance in the creation of SA’s most unique Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2020 vintage of Restless River Main Road & Dignity is no exception. The long ripening period has led to an abundance of ripe cassis and layers of dark cherry, with a maritime, oyster shell-like undertow. This is a fantastic and complex expression of the variety, with gentle tannins and bright acidity.
A relative newcomer to the range is the Le Luc Pinot Noir. Each vintage has shown a staggering improvement in quality, and the 2021 has such detail and complexity (in terms of both the fruit and structure) that’s it’s ‘more burgundian than most South African Pinots!’ notes JancisRobinson.com. If you love proper Pinot Noir, this is one to jump on.
