Provenance

Producer

Critics Ratings

2014
‘Adds vineyard name. 2014 advances even on fine 2013 (4.5 stars, 93 pts). Understated oak, expressive fruit and a combo of delicious, supple generosity (even in youth) and tight, mineral restraint. Subtle, succulent intensity, long finish. 13% alcohol. These also in larger formats.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 5* (95 pts)

2015
‘2015 shows more expressive intensity and richness than fine 2014 (5 stars, 95 pts), but lovely acid line keeps flavour depth and breadth in delicious and harmonious balance and control. Subtle oaking - just 5% new. Long-lingering, succulent lime-centred finish. These also in larger formats.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (93 pts)

'The new vintage of Craig and Anne Wessels’ Chardonnay is a revelation and takes its place among the very best Cape interpretations of the grape. Subtle, focused and very minerally, with just a touch of oak, latent power and a core of citrus-tinged acidity. It wouldn’t look out of place in a line up of Corton-Charlemagnes. Drink: 2016-25.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 96/100

2016
‘Fine single-vineyard wine beautifully composed in classic style. 2016 pure, expressive lime intensity, underlying nutty richness harmonised, endlessly lengthened by savoury tension. Oak enhanced, 5% new. Texture, structure & balance ensure future pleasure.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2019, 5* (95 pts) 

‘Is this the most Burgundian of Cape Chardonnays? It certainly wouldn’t look out place in a line up of Corton-Charlemagnes. Barrel-fermented in 5% new wood, with some malolactic in 2016 (unusual for Craig Wessels), it’s a crunchy, pithy, citrus-edged wine with flinty, smoky, grapefruit and oatmeal flavours and a remarkably long finish. 2018-25.’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 96/100

2017
'Five pickings from a single-vineyard, natural ferment in oak, aged in a mix of barrel, amphora, and stainless steel. 2017 has thrilling tension, purity and complexity in spice-edged, ripe lime flavours. Texture is as important; density and fine grip will ensure a long lifespan.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2020, 5* (97/100)

‘Craig Wessels picks this two-hectare block in five stages to achieve maximum balance and complexity. Large barrel and amphora-fermented, it’s a stunning, elegantly refined Chardonnay with understated oak, some cinnamon spice, good texture and a fresh, citrus peel finish. One of the Cape’s best Chardonnays.’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 96/100

2018
‘Selective pickings of Chardonnay single-vineyard, natural ferment/maturation in oak, 5% amphora sur lie, stainless steel, deliver usual riveting tension, ripe lime, spice complexity in 2018. Increased texture, fine-grained density yield to breathtaking flinty, limy persistence.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2021, 5* (97 pts)

‘"It's not the winemaker," says Craig Wessels, "I've just got great sites." His vineyards are certainly first class, but I think the man is being too modest here. Consistently one of the New World's best Chardonnays, this is complex, balanced and judiciously wooded with 10% amphorae-fermented juice adding some va-va-voom. 2019-27.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 96/100

2019
‘Drought-breaking 2019 vintage conferred rare combo of very low pH and not-too-high acidity, giving delicacy and effortless texture, pleasing hint of salt. Single-vineyard fruit, naturally fermented/year in oak, 5% new, plus 10% amphora component deliver riveting tension, lime and spice complexity, flinty, limy persistence. Magnificent.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2022, 5* (96 pts)

'The 2019 Ava Marie is a very impressive creation indeed. While many of the earlier vintages were a little more honied and resinous quite early in their evolution, the last few vintages have firmly moved in a direction that favours textural tension and a stonier minerality led by aromatics loaded with smoky, flinty, struck match reduction nuances, waxy lemon peel, wet chalk and subtle oat meal leesy notes. On the palate there is a very keen line of acidity together with an ample, fleshy, yellow citrus fruit freshness that boast layers of pithy yellow grapefruit, lemon cordial, crunchy white peaches and hints of sophisticated wet river pebble liquid minerality. One of Craig’s most Burgundian expressions to date, this wine combines fabulous tension with sublime balance.' - Greg Sherwood MW, The Fine Wine Safari, 96+/100 (Dec 2021)