La Petite Ferme, a boutique winery in Franschhoek with astounding views across the valley, has released its new vintage of Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. Exclusively available from the estate, the latest incarnation of this wine displays an inviting aroma of beurre noisette (burnt butter) accompanied by notes of roasted almonds that emerge as a result of the wine’s judicious exposure to wood. On the palate, there are flavours of fresh ripe pineapple and green apple.

Overall, the wine is well balanced and complex, combining fresh citrus and elegant layers of sensory enjoyment typical of premier Chardonnays.

“Our 2016 Chardonnay takes a different path then previous vintages,” says Wikus Pretorius, La Petite Ferme’s winemaker since October 2015. “Fruit for the 2016 vintage is a combination of our estate grown vineyards and grapes from Elim (Agulhas) which is more coastal.

“Typical stone fruit flavours are contributed by the Franschhoek grapes and cutting fresh minerality, by the Elim fruit. They work exceptionally well together to produce a wine with length as well as freshness.”

Pretorius is particularly happy with the wine for its delicacy and freshness while retaining enough weight from the time spent in oak. “The result is a wine that is equally at home by itself or with food.”