Made from low vigour Chardonnay vines grown on the clay-rich Bokkeveld shale-derived soils of Walker Bay, this wine has a wonderfully austere nose of crushed gravel, white citrus, lime pith and crunchy white peach stone fruits. It is dusty and restrained, laden with wet river pebble mineral aromatics that suggest plenty but reveal little to start with. As you coax the wine in the glass, notes of cassis leaf, green apple skins, lemon verbena, wet chalk and yellow grapefruit reveal themselves in little mini waves.

The palate is taught, saline, and full of nervy tension, showing more overt complexity of green mango, lime cordial, green apple Bon Bons and lemon pie. This wine is still in puberty yet certainly shows great potential and ageability. 

Hannes Storm has made a tantalising expression of Walker Bay Chardonnay in this 5 star white vintage … but at 150 cases, sadly few will get to enjoy this beautiful, classically inspired white. 

(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)