Kara-Tara, Chardonnay Western Cape 2022

Jancis Robinson
"Full bottle 1,396 g. Rüdger van Wyk's own wine brand, named after the river that runs through his home town. 100% Chardonnay from an unirrigated vineyard at 150–250 m. Fermented and aged for nine months in used French oak barrels. 
Smells of the melted-butter-and-spice imprint of oak fermentation. But tasting it blind, I'd guess Chablis. It really does reflect the stony face of Chardonnay – the bones of the vineyard, the unfleshed arc of the fruit. Lime, cobnuts, grilled polenta, lime leaf, bay leaf. Taut and piercing. This has plenty of time ahead of it. 16.5++/20 points. (TC)"

Vinous Reverie Notes
Kara-Tara is a joint-venture between Rüdger van Wyk (2018 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year) and José Conde of Stark-Condé Wines. Translated from the Khoisan, the language from the first people in Southern Africa, it means “deep dark shadows” and refers to the Karatara river that runs through Rüdger’s home town, near Knysna which is located in South Africa, on the Cape South Coast, facing the Indian Ocean. Tasting Notes: The Chardonnay comes from an old vineyard just outside Stellenbosch on sandy soils, planted in 1984, augmented by fruit from Overberg and Paarl. It has a delightful bouquet, quite “sunny” in style with light honey, almond and grapefruit. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, the oak nicely integrated (nine months in barrel) with a light fresh spicy finish. Enjoy this well-crafted Chardonnay over the next six to seven years.