Wine Advisor
Restless River, Ava Marie Chardonnay 2014
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Pale, bright gold-tinged yellow. Sexy aromas of orange blossom, ripe peach, spicy oak and honey reminded me of Meursault. A Chardonnay with good size and palate presence, but quite dry owing to its firm minerality and citrus zest flavors. Still a bit lemony and bound-up, this wine needs more time to express itself and expand. Finishes firm and lively.
About the Producer
Restless River is situated in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, with the vineyards reaching 1200ft and 5km from the cold South Atlantic Ocean. The appellation is unique with ancient, granite-based, rocky, deep clay soils, extremely rare to the greater Walker Bay area. Daytime temperatures during summer are some of the lowest in the South African Winelands. This cool maritime climate and our decomposed granite soils allow them to grow and make lighter, more elegant wine balanced with texture, length and complexity. Hundreds of years ago, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley was known as Attacquas Kloof. In 1760 the elder, Wessel Wessels, arrived with his family and set up a home. 2004, Craig and Anne Wessels bought a small portion of Wessels’ original farm, and in so doing, the name of the original settler was once again returned to the valley. Like the Wessels that went before, Craig’s real passion is farming, and he is also the winemaker. Anne shares the passion and runs the business side of the estate. The farm has some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the Hemel-en-Aarde, with vines planted in 1999. Pinot noir followed and was planted in 2013.
