Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
This vintage continues to high-light the vineyard’s remarkable and consistent textural expression. Explosive citrus and succulent apricot fruit flavours engage the palate and drives an exhilarating fresh persistence. Excellent length. Nuanced and layered, however, it will reward further patience in spades.
Vintage conditions
Good rainfall was received during winter, but unfortunately wet conditions continued into the growing season – the cumulative summer precipitation nearly equalling the annual average. On Heritage weekend of 24 September, historic maximum rainfall data was revised when a massive 196mm event caused devastating flooding and landslides across the region. Wet and windy conditions prevailed during flower, reducing yields on most cultivars. Fortunately, the inclement weather dissipated before the onset of harvest, allowing ripeness to progress unhindered on the small and concentrated crop. Picking started in the second week of February, but in a very congested fashion, as ripening of various cultivars converged towards the first week of March.
Vinification details
Another healthy and impressive crop, not withstanding the challenging growing conditions that marked the vintage. Chardonnay juice, freshly liberated from the hand-picked bunches, is deliberately exposed to a limited amount of oxygen prior to fermentation. This action is taken to remove undesired phenolics and contribute to a bright and fresh wine. The majority of the maturing wine was permitted to undergo malo-lactic fermentation, striking a perfect balance between palate weight and purity. Matured in French oak for 8 months, with a 22% new component. Bottled in January 2024
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 93 pts
Platter: 95 pts
Tasting video
With winemaker Chris Albrecht.
Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
Flashes of lime blossom and flint, with a gravelly undercurrent of rye and yeasty complexity. Expansive pear and yellow peach flavours launch off the palate, endlessly gliding on honey infused lemon drops. Unctuous, yet lively throughout. A citrus pith interest anchors the finish, calling for a return to the glass
Vintage conditions
Moderate and mild winter weather was experienced, with an average rainfall, which continued into spring and early summer. These conditions, ideal for slow and even ripening, was interrupted during the middle of December, with the arrival of some refreshing showers. January saw a continuation of dry and cool conditions, coinciding neatly with an earlier maturity of those cultivars that usually ripen first. During the third week of February, however, a massive 80mm downpour, had set the tone for the rest of the vintage. By the last day of picking, 240mm had fallen since harvest started. Rigorous selection of only ripe and healthy bunches, proved critical. Most vineyards cropped lower than the long-term average, mostly due to adverse flowering conditions.
Vinification details
The Crocodile’s Lair crop from this vintage was remarkable – significant in size, but even more due to the perfect grape condition and ideal ripening, qualities falling outside the usual accepted norm. A gradual shift to larger 350L oak barrels were effected, placing increased focus on fruit purity and reining the wine’s development in slightly. As per usual, no battonage, or lees stirring, is practiced although the wine remains on fermentation lees until the barrels are emptied and blended. The wine matured in French oak for 7 months, with a 21% new component. Bottling in January 2023.
Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
Initially reveals sun-dried hay, peachy stone fruit and a dusting of toasted almond shavings. The hallmark creamy citrus fruit flavours build in volume towards a succulent and effortless textural finish. Remains refined and delicate in nature by a balanced tension.
Vintage conditions
Cold and exceedingly wet conditions occurred during flowering and berry set late in 2021, pushing the onset of the harvest season ever later. The ripening season during January 2022 however, saw some of the hottest and driest conditions that have been recorded over the past seven years; the rainfall received for this period was atypically low. This allowed for a long, healthy ripening of a concentrated crop. Minimal disease pressure and dilution resulted in the production of fruit of an outstanding quality, in which full phenolic ripeness and refreshingly low natural sugar accumulation was expressed.
Vinification details
Picking is done by hand and the grapes chilled overnight, before being delivered to the cellar early the following morning. The pneumatic bag presses are loaded with whole bunches and pressed with multiples rotations, during the three-hour cycle. Fermentation occur in barrel and initiate spontaneously by indigenous yeast populations. The wine matured in French oak for 8 months, with a 23% new component. Bottling in January 2023, the first in amber or dead leaf bottles, adding an additional layer of protection against light degradation.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 94 pts
Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
Excellently presented aromas of melon and nectarine underlay a vibrant and pronounced lemon zest and baking spice combination. The texture is rich and voluminous, but balanced by a compelling acidity. Incredible length on the palate.
Vintage conditions
It’s been remarked before how the weather, during recent odd vintages, seems to behave to the benefit of local vintners. 2021 followed this pattern of 2019, 2017 and 2015. Yields varied significantly between cultivars and apart from big rain event on 14 March, dry and cool conditions prevailed during picking. Phenolic ripeness out performed sugar accumulation in the berries, resulting in juices with low potential alcohol and balanced natural acidities.
Vinification details
Fermentation occur in barrel and initiated spontaneously by indigenous yeast populations. Maintaining temperatures below 25 degrees Celsius is key in the preservation of fruit freshness. Bottled in January 2022 follows a 2 month resting period in tank.
Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
Lush mineral spice and stone fruit blossom at the fore. Explosive lime-infused flavours of green apple are amplified by a precise energy. Gentle touch of candied ginger and toast. Vivacious and lasting finish.
Vintage conditions
Spring 2019 saw ideal weather conditions during flower and fruit set, heightening expectations for the upcoming vintage. However, hopes were soon challenged by the atypical and unstable weather presented early in the New Year. Fortunately, dry conditions set in as soon as harvest commenced, with the crop remaining healthy. Volumes recovered slightly from the light 2019 vintage and all-round, unexpectedly positive, fruit-quality was delivered to the cellar
Vinification details
This remote vineyard is planted to Chardonnay clones 76 and 95 – each expressing the site in their own unique way. Once the juices are liberated from the berries, it is left to settle for 10 hours in tank, without the addition of any enzymes. This juice, still containing a fair amount of solids, are transferred to barrel for fermentation. These solids impact the sensory profile and improve mouthfeel. Aiming for increased fruit focus, our traditional 228L barrels are now complemented by a number of 350L barrels. The final blend is racked to tank, following eight month’s maturation and bottled in January 2021.
Technical Analysis
The Crocodile's Lair vineyard is located 700m above sea level, ripens a month later than others and benefits enormously from cool autumn temperatures.
Tasting note
Stunning initial aromas of spice intertwined effortlessly with citrus blossom and zest. Perfectly balanced textural richness is delivered with integrated oak support. The palate is refreshed by a persistent oyster-shell coated finish.
Vintage conditions
Vintage 2019 will long be remembered for the raging wild fire that swept across the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the 11th January – less than three weeks before the first grapes were picked. Bouchard were fortunate not to be majorly impacted and brought in a healthy, yet slightly lighter crop. The reduced yield being the result of milder than normal winter temperatures. Weather conditions remained cool and relatively dry throughout February and March.
Vinification details
Bunches are added to the press intact and the juices extracted from the berries by long and gentle pressing, yielding more clarity and flavour complexities. Fermentation occurs in oak barrels varying in age between new and fifth fill and typically lasts for a week. Thereafter, depending on vintage needs, a proportion of the barrels are prevented from completing malo-lactic fermentation, thus retaining palate freshness and gaining fruit focus. The final blend is racked from barrel following eight months maturation without any stirring of the lees and bottled with a light filtration.
AWARDS
IWC & IWSC: Gold
Tim Atkin MW: 94 pts
