Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Chardonnay 2025
The 2025 Chardonnay an elegant wine that reflects roundness and a crisp acidity with subtle defining notes of white pear and lemon toast and accents of lime blossom.
The 2025 overall Budding was earlier and more even than for the 2024 vintage, but the damage of the storms late September resulted in significantly lower yields.
The Pinot noir handled the challenges of the growing season quite well under the circumstances, where high rainfall and untimely rainfall created significant disease pressure. At 25.05 centigrade for the average maximum temperatures for the 4 “hottest” months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) building up to and during harvest, 2025 was warmer than the particularly cool 2024. Burgundy, for example, for the equivalent period in the Northern Hemisphere has an average of 24.66 centigrade. Harvest finished about two weeks earlier than 2024 with ripening more variable, requiring careful selection. The wines produced have beautiful texture.
Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Chardonnay 2024
The 2024 Chardonnay, an elegant wine that reflects roundness and a crisp acidity with subtle defining notes of white pear and lemon
toast and accents of lime blossom.
Reflective of site this cool climate medium bodied wine is both silky and fresh with an elegant long finish.
The 2024 overall Budding was earlier and more even than for the 2023 vintage, but the damage of the storms late September resulted in significantly lower yields.
The Pinot noir handled the challenges of the growing season quite well under the circumstances, where the wet Winter and dry Summer resulted in small compact bunches with small berries for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Early indications for the wines are for beautiful varietal expression, with good length and textured mouthfeel.
Score:
92/100 – Neal Martin Vinous 2025
93/100 – Tim Atkin MW SA Report 2025
Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Chardonnay 2023
Elegans pulchritude, an elegant reflection of site, the 2023 Chardonnay delivering a bright and crystalline, with expressive aromatics of white citrus, limestone minerality. With a fresh and elegant finish.
A very challenging 2023 harvest, but thankfully with all grapes in before the rains in March, this did not have a negative effect as the vines received natural irrigation which helped decrease the effect of water stress levels on the vines allowing them to function better and allow optimal functionality for the ripening period.
The vineyards had even budbursts, and the initial growth was also even, mainly due to higher-than-normal maximum and minimum temperatures during September. Grape quality was very favourable leading to an exceptional vintage. The season’s length, coolness and reduced yields have made for a great quality harvest.
Score:
91/100 – Neal Martin Vinous 2024
93/100 – Tim Atkin MW SA report 2024
“The most impressive new Chardonnays we have tasted in this price range and highly recommended for fans of mineral-driven Chardonnay.”
Chardonnay 2022 – Sold Out
An elegant wine that reflects roundness and a crisp acidity with subtle defining notes of white pear and lemon toast. Reflective of site, this cool climate medium bodied wine is both silky and fresh with an elegant long finish.
| Alcohol | 12.88% |
| Acid | 6.7 |
| pH | 3.30 |
| Residual Sugar | 2.6 |
| Amphorae Ageing | 5 months, 77% amphorae and neutral oak |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 614.91 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un-irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | August 2022 |
Chardonnay 2021 – Sold Out
Crisp acidity and lean minerality underpin notes of melon and tangerine fruit and accents of lime blossom. A triumphant expression of terroir, this medium-bodied, cool climate wine is both silky and fresh and boasts a long, elegant finish.
| Alcohol | 13.4% |
| Acid | 7.3 |
| pH | 3.32 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.6 |
| Amphorae Ageing | 6 months, 67% |
| Barrel Ageing | 6 months – old oak |
| Wooding | 58% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 5th fill 50% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 299.16 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un-irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | September 2021 |
Chardonnay 2020 – Sold Out
A compact and radiant Chardonnay with notes of citrus blossom, sweet lemon grass, and lees spice complemented by a fine dusty minerality. The long, gentle palate is at once extremely expressive and deliciously classical and restrained. A remarkably pure wine that will age with grace.
| Alcohol | 12.75% |
| Acid | 7.3 |
| pH | 3.32 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.6 |
| Amphorae Ageing | 6 months, 24%, stainless steel 18% |
| Barrel Ageing | 6 months – old oak |
| Wooding | 58% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 5th fill 50% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 574 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un-irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | November 2020 |
Chardonnay 2019
A particularly bright, tight and pure Chardonnay with marked elegance. Clean, elevated primary fruit character and citrus blossom introduce a long, gentle palate. Very expressive, but also deliciously classical and restrained. This is a graceful and age-worthy wine with an almost crystalline purity.
| Alcohol | 13.14% |
| Acid | 6.6 |
| pH | 3.41 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.6 |
| Amphorae Ageing | 6 months, 50% |
| Barrel Ageing | 6 months |
| Wooding | 50% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 4th fill 50% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 297.33 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un-irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | September 2019 |
