Ava Marie Chardonnay, Restless River 2023

Now in its sixteenth vintage, Ava Maria has established itself as one of the Cape's greatest Chardonnays. Sourced from the oldest block of the variety in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, it has amazing tension and granitic focus, refined 10% new wood, notes of macadamia nut, beeswax, oyster shell and lemon butter and a lingering, palate-cleansing finish. Sublime.

Cashew butter, pastries, salted almonds, cedar and lemon rind on the nose of this cool and textured white. It’s creamy and layered with a medium body and excellent freshness. Leesy, mineral undertones linger. From a single vineyard planted in 1998.