The Grapes The grapes were selectively hand picked from our own vineyards during the crisp early morning at a balling of 24° In The Cellar The Grapes were whole bunch pressed and the free run was barrel fermented using a combination of CY3079 and Wild yeast. The wine was matured on lees for 11 months in French oak barrels and battonaged regularly. The Wine The 2011 Alvi's Drift AD chardonnay has a lively pale lemon yellow with a hint of green. The nose is blend of cashew nuts, subtle peach and flinty, toasted oak. Very specific vinification techniques and the barrel maturation process have resulted in an integrated and elegant wine. The palate is full, balanced and lingering with a hint of citrus, white chocolate and vanilla pods. The wine has great aging potential and will reward 2 to 5 years of cellaring. An ideal companion for firm fish such as tuna. The packaging Founded in 1928, Alvi's Drift cellar has produced a string of award winning wines. The AD range is the culmination of our pursuit of producing wines of the highest quality and unrivaled complexity. On the label you can see the Van der Merwe crest as a watermark in the background and the pillars at the bottom of the label and capsule symbolizes the low water bridge from which the cellar takes it's name. Awards SA Top 100 Wines winner 2012 SA Top 100 Best Value Award 2012 Cuthbert Bourgoyne Trophy, Best Wooded Chard SA Youn Wine Show Silver VERITAS 2012 Silver Michelangelo International Wine Award 2012 Bronze IWSC Awards 2012 4Stars John Platter Wine Guide 2013 Gold Catavinum World Wine and Spirits Award 2013 Analysis RS-4.9 Alc-13,5% TA-7.1 pH-3.02