Springfield Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2023

Springfield Wild Yeast Chardonnay is made by Springfield Estate in Robertson, in South Africa's Western Cape, a family winery run by descendants of French Huguenots. Robertson is known for its lime-rich soils, and the estate has built its reputation on the minerality those soils give its whites. The name refers to the method: fermentation is started only by the wild, indigenous yeasts present on the grapes and in the cellar, a slower and less predictable route that adds complexity and a savoury edge. The wine is then aged on its lees, which broadens the texture and deepens the savoury character while the restrained approach keeps oak in the background. At 13.5 percent it stays taut and mineral. The colour is pale lemon. The nose leads with lemon, green apple and white peach, backed by a stony, chalky note and a hint of white flowers. The palate is dry and precise, the lees giving weight through the middle before a long, saline finish. Serve chilled at 10 to 12 degrees.