Draaiboek Wines Kinkel Chardonnay 2022 Bottle size: 750ml

‘This fantastic maiden release wine from Draaiboek Wines draws on the very finest elements of the cool climate terroir of Elgin to create a wine from a dry-farmed eight-year-old single vineyard situated on south westerly facing slopes, 255 metres above the coast. Fermented in French oak using 25% new barrels, the wine was aged for 10 months on its fine lees before being bottled unfiltered and unfined. The Kinkel shows a slightly tighter, more restrained aromatic profile on the nose, with subtle hints of lime blossom, lemon peel, Granny Smith apples, dusty limestone, lemon grass and white stone fruits. For all its reserve and wound spring tension, you can sense the electricity pulsing below the surface, waiting to explode on the racy, energetic, saline palate that shows subtle hints of flinty reduction. Once again, like its sibling Onskuld, the oaking is extremely elegant, pinpoint and precise, in no way obscuring the beautiful white citrus zest and liquid minerality that bristles on the taut palate. Seamless, crystalline and delightfully focused, this is a thoroughly exhilarating expression of cool climate Chardonnay and definitely a new release not to be missed! Drink from 2024 to 2034+.’ – Greg Sherwood MW, 96/100

‘Cool-grown Elgin fruit delivers a stellar debut, 2022 with precise & focused citrus aromas & flavours in a gentle nougat frame from 25% new oak. Beautifully structured, bright & intense, perfectly balanced for the long haul. Delectable salty farewell.’ – Platter’s Guide, 5*(95/100)

‘It's no surprise that this Elgin Chardonnay is so good, given that Stephanie Wild of Thistle & Weed fame is the oenologist. Wonderfully focused, layered and precise, it’s the kind of wine you want to tell your friends about: adroitly oaked in 25% new barrels with wet stone, crème fraîche and lemongrass flavours and a thrilling finish. 2023-29’– Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 94/100