Restless River "Ava Marie" Chardonnay '21

Made from 100% Chardonnay, “Ava Maria” is made from a single vineyard of the same name, planted in 1999. It is the oldest Chardonnay vineyard in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, with granitic rocky topsoils and heavy clay subsoils. The fruit is manually harvested, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented with indigenous yeast in 90% French oak (10% new) and 10% unlined Tuscan terra-cotta amphora on the lees. The wine is released after 12 months in barrel, an additional three months in tank, and 18 months in bottle.