Lokaia, The Sandman, Chardonnay, Franschhoek, South Africa, 2020

A virtually unexplored method of producing Chardonnay, resulting in a wine that boasts an alcohol of only 12%. With a perfect balance between mature and slightly under-ripe fruit, this Chardonnay was fermented and matured in contact with its crushed and destemmed skins and punched down twice a day until the end of fermentation. Matured in a 500L Terracotta Amphora with the bottom lined by fully mature and dried out stalks. Two months in contact with the skins under a layer of fresh virgin olive oil. Drained, unfined and bottle-matured for a further year before release.

The colour of this wine defies the several weeks of skin contact, showing vibrant greens and yellows in the glass. Fresh lemon and
lime form the crux of the aromatics, with endless brightness and life on the nose. The palate is endlessly complex and remarkably clean for a natural wine, whose texture in the finish begs another taste.