Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Excellently presented aromas of green apple, jasmine flower and citrus rind. An inviting creamy entry and bright acidity are well balanced by hints of hay and lemon peel complexity. Elegance and precision.
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 2023, 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 flowering, reducing yields on most cultivars. Fortunately, the inclement weather dissipated before the onset of the harvest, allowing ripeness to progress unhindered on the small, 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
A major contributor to the success of this wine, lies in the origin of the fruit. The hillside Overberg vineyard is situated 700m above sea-level and produce bunches with small concentrated berries, responsible for the wine’s typical spicy richness. Fermented at low temperature in stainless steel and matured without any oak contact. A small amount of Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay was added to broaden the fruit profile. Bunches are pressed whole and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours. The wine undergoes no malo-lactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6 month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate.
Tasting video
With winemaker Chris Albrecht.
Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Intense ripe pear and zesty lemon peel aromas, seamlessly interwoven with floral overtones. Crystalline substance and a piercing pocus, that drives a seemingly endless finish. The wine exhibits fine harmony.
Vintage conditions
Moderate and mild winter weather conditions were experienced, with average rainfall, which continued into spring and early summer. These conditions, ideal for slow and even ripening, were 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, 240 mm had fallen since harvest started. Rigorous selection of only ripe and healthy bunches provide critical.
Vinification details
Bunches are pressed whole and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours. The wine undergoes no malo-lactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6 month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate. Apart from a small percentage of estate grown fruit, included for added depth and complexity, the majority of this wine is from the Elandskloof ward.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 90 pts
Platter: 90 pts
Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Lively and refreshing, with great definition of seamless floral and citrus fruit notes. Crisp and fine on the palate with the slightest hint of nutty spice. This vineyard’s trademark finesse on obvious display. This wine shows great promise and will reward further cellaring.
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 a big rain event on 14 March, dry and cool conditions prevailed during picking. Phenolic ripeness outperformed sugar accumulation in the berries, resulting in juices with low potential alcohol and balanced natural acidities.
Vinification details
Bunches are pressed whole and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours. The wine undergoes no malo-lactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6 month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 90 pts
DWWA: Silver
Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Full and expressive, with luxurious aromas of Golden Delicious apple and fresh cream, wound around a pure and precise core. Succulent texture and fresh lemon rind flavours bring balance and focus into a substantial 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
Bunches are pressed whole and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. As with the wooded Chardonnays, the juice is intentionally left to start fermentation spontaneously, thus obtaining significant benefit from the natural occurring micro-flora. The wine undergoes no malolactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a six-month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate.
Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Bottled finesse. Delicate green apple, umami and flinty notes on perfectly balanced, bright and refreshing acidity. Effortless density coats the palate on entry and focusses its energy towards the finish. This wine shows great promise and will reward further cellaring.
Vintage conditions
An unprecedented early harvest starting on the 18th of February, posed serious logistical issues for the winery, as they were still heavily involved in the picking of Sauvignon Blanc and estate-grown Chardonnay. Harvest of these typically small-berried grapes, concluded in the first week of March, when historically, sampling the vineyards would begin. Normal cropping levels and even ripening of the generally excellent fruit, leaves climatic conditions or the preceding dry years to blame for this occurrence.
Vinification details
Picked and transported chilled, in the early morning, bunches are then pressed and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours. The wine undergoes no malo-lactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate.
Technical Analysis
With fruit from two unique vineyard sites, Bouchard Finlayson's Sans Barrique cuvée enjoys no wood, which is the key to its crisp, clean personality.
Tasting note
Fresh, with its hallmark lemony texture that hints at cool summer nights. Brilliant pear, quince and orange blossom focuses around a lively core of moderate intensity. The wine exhibits fine harmony, with a creamy substance expanding over the length of the palate.
Vintage conditions
With dry summer conditions of the past few years persisting, harvest commenced on the last day of February and continued intermittently for the following three weeks – an unusually long picking window. Fruit quality proved to be excellent and cropping levels were encouraging.
Vinification details
In line with previous vintages, the majority of this wine originates from the elevated vineyards of the Elandskloof. Bunches are pressed and transferred to tank for cold settling over 36 hours. Only the clarified juice is fermented in stainless steel, where a long, cool fermentation encourages the development of a full spectrum of flavours. The wine undergoes no malolactic fermentation, adding further to its fresh appeal, with a 6 month maturation period ‘sur lie’ building a rich element into the palate. An unwooded component of Bouchard Finlayson’s Estate Chardonnay is introduced prior to bottling, contributing a stone fruit complexity.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 90 pts
Platter: 4*
