Cap Maritime South Coast Chardonnay 2023

Cap Maritime South Coast Chardonnay 2023 is a premium white made by Boekenhoutskloof in the Cape South Coast region of South Africa. It's widely praised for its elegant profile, balancing fresh citrus notes with a creamy texture from ageing in French oak and concrete tanks.

The Wine Advocate
RP 92

Reviewed by: Monica Larner

The Boekenhoutskloof 2023 Upper Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay Cap Maritime comes from a 15-hectare block on sandstone soil, planted five or six years ago. Grapes from other parcels with Burgundian clones are also added to the blend.

The winemaking follows an oxidative approach, giving a creamy texture with notes of vanilla and stone fruit, supported by a firm, saline finish. The wine has a spicy character and undergoes long ageing in new and neutral oak barrels for more mid-palate richness.

Owner Marc Kent believes in great white wines with ageing potential. Production is limited to 5,000 bottles.

Boekenhoutskloof is Marc Kent's project that uses grapes from the same 180-hectare estate in Swartland farmed by Porseleinberg. Ten percent of the fruit goes to that second boutique brand, and the rest is used here and in the hugely popular The Chocolate Block.

This historic Franschhoek estate was founded in 1776 and revitalised in 1993 with a focus on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Sémillon and Viognier.