Named after the mission hospital established on the domain property in the early 19th century, Missionvale Chardonnay 2018 harvesting commenced on 8 February. Hand-picked bunches were pressed without crushing and settled overnight, before being transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. A third new oak was employed, including some 350-litre barrels to complement the traditional 228-litre barrels. 10% of the bottling was fermented in terracotta amphora, which afforded the winemaking team an opportunity to fine-tune the volume of tension. Apart from 9 months in oak, elevage was completed by a 2 month resting period in tank, prior to bottling in January 2019. Bottled at 13.5%. (Bottle size 750ml)

Nose: Pronounced aromas of ripe oranges, grapefruit, nectarines and creamy with whiffs of almonds.

Palate: On entry, oranges and nectarines shine on entry. Lovely notes of wild bush peach and grapefruit as well. Lovely well weighted creamy texture. Subtle nuances of toasted nuts on the mid-palate.

Finish: Bright acidity balances the creamy richness. Finishing with lingering refreshing notes of lemon

Established in 1989, Bouchard Finlayson is one of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates located in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde. Framed by great fold mountains and breathtaking ocean views, it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs.