Provenance

Producer

Critics Ratings

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* (95/100)

'Grapes picked in four or five batches over 10 days for extra complexity and balance. Juiced treated oxidatively before spontaneous fermentation and maturation lasting 11 months in French oak, only 5% new. A subtle and elusive nose - not very much primary fruit in evidence but some lemon and white peach if you use your imagination while there's also an appealing biscuit-like quality plus both some flintiness and earthiness. The palate is lean, fresh with a very long, salty finish. A triumph of understatement and now starting to take its place among the Cape's best. Alcohol: 13.1%' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100 (Oct 2018)

'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
'The 2017 Chardonnay Ava Marie has a fragrant bouquet with touches of lemon rind, peach skin and an oily scent that is quite potent and attractive. The palate is vibrant on the entry with a tang of orange rind and marmalade, very intense with touches of mint and sage. It fans out nicely on the finish - an excellent Chardonnay that should drink well over the next decade and more.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 92/100 (Aug 2022)

'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) - Chardonnay of the Year

'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

'Charming purity of fruit, very mineral and balanced. The subtle nose evokes fresh white fruits, hints of light toast and white sesame. The palate is crystalline. Great texture and length. Savory and saline, this Chardonnay is magnificent.' - La Revue du Vin de France, 2020 - 18.5/20

'Delicate, creamy citrus with high acid to balance. Intense, zesty and needs time - all too primary at the moment and not fully meshed but has the ingredients in place for a longer future. (The 2008 that Craig gave me blind - it's no longer available - was delicious, though I took it to be a mature Sémillon.) Deep and long.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20

'Pear, lemon and a hint of oatmeal on the nose and palate but much more about structure than aromatics or primary flavour. It possesses intensity without being heavy or bulky and great length on the finish. Delicate and yet super-detailed, just beautifully poised, this vintage is the finest to date and firmly among the best examples in the country.' - Winemag, Christian Eedes - 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* (97/100)

'Much riper nose than the 2017 and altogether a much better balanced wine whose high acidity is nicely balanced by almost balletic slimline fruit. Not an ounce of fat on this wine but you could drink it already - and it should age well.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16+/20 (Nov 2020)

'"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