L'Ormarins Blanc de Blancs 2019 - Anthonij Rupert

Wine of Origin South Africa, Franschhoek.

The vineyards of Altima (Elandskloof) provide the majority of the grapes that give life to this excellent South African Blanc de Blancs. The soils, located on steep slopes, are composed of clay schist, with a high capacity for water retention and rich in organic matter, which allow for vigorous growth of the vines.
Lower down, in the valley and along the rivers, the vines grow on dark alluvial soils that favor the growth of very healthy grapes. The Chardonnay vines are grown with vertical trellises.
The 2019 harvest can be described as a year divided into two parts: the first half was characterized by favorable weather, while the second half was more challenging, with slower ripening due to the cold and rainy weather in March. Good rainfall provided much-needed relief from the severe drought of the previous three years; however, warm spells in winter and variable temperatures in spring led to smaller berries and irregular bunch development. Moderate temperatures in December and January slightly delayed the harvest.

The grapes are hand-picked and pressed in whole bunches. The juices from the different pressings are kept separate. The must is left to rest and inoculated with yeasts for fermentation. About 15% of the Blanc de Blancs is fermented in barrels for about 12 weeks, before being added to the wine that has not been aged in barriques. The base wine obtained from the different processes is filtered and bottled for the second fermentation in bottles stored at 13°-15°. It is then aged for 4 years in the bottle. Disgorging then takes place; the Blanc de Blancs is further refined for about 8 months before being released for sale.

Decanter: 93/100;
Wine Enthusiast: 91/100;
2018: Robert Parker: 91/100.