Five Soldiers 2024

Rustenberg, fact sheet (rustenberg.co.za – linket fra rustenberg.co.za, hentet 2026-10-18): 2024 Rustenberg Five Soldiers – område: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch; 100% Chardonnay; alkohol 13%; fadlagring 14 måneder, 72% nye fade. Enkeltmark ifølge arket: Five Soldiers. Producentens noter (engelsk): Introduction: The Five Soldiers vineyard is named after five tall stone pine trees called the “Five Soldiers” that tower over this site. Carefully selected Chardonnay bunches from this area are hand harvested for this special wine and then given royal treatment in the cellar. The final product is a very complex full-bodied wine, approachable in its youth however careful cellaring will exhibit the depth of the wine’s complexity and will reward patience. Vintage: The Winter of 2023 was cold and wet, as was the season’s Spring, leading to the late budding of many varieties. While the excellent ground water availability was welcome, the early growing conditions were challenging due to the influence of rain. The resultant humidity, and at other times high winds, ultimately resulted in lower cropping levels. As Summer progressed, the influence of the El Nino weather phenomenon brought ideal warm, dry ripening conditions, as well as an early start and end to the vintage, a relief from the past few wetter harvests. The overall quality of the wines produced across the board in 2024 was superb. The white wines of this vintage have excellent acidity, thanks to the cool start to the season and express fully ripe fruit, a benefit of the warmer second half of Summer in the lead up to and during the harvest season.