WTN: Danie de Wet Chardonnay Sur Lie 2005

Robertson, South Africa.

Vanilla, spice, honey and citrus fruit on the nose.

Spicy and peppery, pear, lemon, lime, orange and a hint of bitter grapefruit rind, very fleshy fruit, zingy acidity, but with some creaminess for balance.

Mouthwatering finish, with slightly bitter grapefruit rind.

Good value at $13.95 (Canadian).

Keep those SA notes coming Bruce. Does Vintages have a fair selection?

Bruce, thanks as always for the notes. I particularly enjoy all your notes because the exact same wines are available to me.

Frankly, I have yet to have a South African white that I haven't liked. As with the reds, I find them to have this unique balance of opulent warm-climate fruit and great verve and structure. I haven't had many SA Chards in recent years, but will likely pick this one up based on your note.

I'm a big fan of the de Wet wines (which we do not represent). The minerality is brilliant. There are some wonderful chardonnay sites in Stellenbosch (our own Talana Hill, which produces wines of Meursault-Charmes-type minerality, is one), but de Wet's sites in Robertson are wonderful.

Makes you wonder what guys like that could do with old massales rather than squeaky-clean modern clones.