Name: Capensis Chardonnay Silene 2023 750ml
Brand: Capensis
SKU: 1019589
Price: 40.32 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 91.5 (4 reviews)

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Winery Capensis

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Varietal Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country South Africa

Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.

Region Coastal Region

The coastal region of South Africa is one of the most prodigious and productive wine regions on earth, and one which covers a vast distance making up for most of the tip of the African continent. The history of South African wines is a fascinating and surprisingly long one, with the very first wines in the country being produced by settlers in the 1650s, long before many other New World countries had even been discovered. Today, coastal South African wines are wildly popular around the world thanks to their big, fruity flavors and relative simplicity. Wineries in the region make the most of the hot sunshine, the high quality soils, and the brisk oceanic winds which keep disease at bay and stop the grapes from getting too hot, and produce a wide variety of wines of great distinction.

Appellation Stellenbosch

DC 94pts

Decanter

Restrained citrus and white stone fruit marry with melon, vanilla-infused lees and buttery oak, finishing with bright acidity; textured and deep. (Silver) - DWWA 2025

WA 93pts

Wine Advocate

Evolving into its own distinct identity within the portfolio, the Capensis 2023 Stellenbosch Silene Chardonnay reveals zippy acidity, bright tropical fruit and a strong sense of freshness. The winemaking mirrors the established Capensis approach, with élevage in larger-format foudre and new vessels being introduced from Stockinger. There is an immediate reductive snap on opening, reinforcing the wine’s tension and energy, while the maritime influence and decomposed granite soils of Stellenbosch contribute clarity. Production will drop in 2024 due to wind damage during flowering. The 2023 vintage proved terrific for whites, thanks to later ripening conditions, though the season’s rainfall made it more challenging for red varieties.

VM 90pts

Vinous Media

The 2023 Chardonnay Silene has fine delineation on the nose with deft scents of tropical fruit, leaning into the California style of the grape variety, maybe a little too much in this instance. The palate is actually better and more interesting: crisp acidity, notes of white peach and stem ginger that infuse the citrus fruit. Whereas they could have lavished toasty oak on the finish, there is actually welcome restraint and sapidity. Enjoy this over the next decade. Tasted at John E. Fells' tasting in London.

WS 89pts

Wine Spectator

A veil of crushed stone smoke surrounds a core of tinned pear and apple, while finely etched spices trace the slender, precise finish. Drink now through 2030. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,277 cases made, 1,536 cases imported.

Winery Notes

A blend of two mountain vineyards, our estate Fijnbosch vineyard and the neighboring Nooitgedacht vineyard, Silene provides an aromatic explosion of lime, lemon, orange blossom, jasmine and spice. A tight palate of citrus and rich minerals drives a saline finish, light on its feet yet dense and long.

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Capensis Chardonnay Silene 2023 750ml