This is Chardonnay with nothing to hide. No oak barrel, no buttery vanilla, no heavy hand. Just the grape, bright and fruity, the way a peach tastes off the tree. Pour it cold on a Friday night, before the nyama choma or right through it, and it does that thing where the glass is somehow already empty. Dry, fresh, friendly. The easy yes when someone asks what to open.
Pale gold in the glass with a green wink at the edge. Smell it and you get ripe citrus, white peach and a bit of pear, with melon and a soft tropical lift behind. The 'unwooded' part means no oak ageing, so none of that toasty, vanilla, oaky weight you get in fancier Chardonnay. Instead it's clean and lively, fruit front and centre. On the palate it's properly dry, the acidity keeps it zippy, and the finish is crisp and lingers a good beat longer than you'd expect.
The details
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Where it's from
Neethlingshof sits in Stellenbosch, the heart of South Africa's wine country, and it's one of the oldest estates going. The farm dates back to 1692 and was originally called De Wolvendans, the dance of the wolves, before it took the Neethling family name in 1828. You'll know it by the kilometre-long avenue of pine trees leading up to the cellar. They've handed over 40 percent of the land to conservation, so the wildlife gets a say too. This bottle is the no-fuss expression of their Chardonnay, made to show off the fruit rather than the winemaker's tricks.
Good to know
- What is the price of Neethlingshof Chardonnay (Unwooded) 75cl?
Neethlingshof Chardonnay (Unwooded) 75cl is KSh 2,799 at Oaks & Corks. Order online for fast delivery across Nairobi, usually within the hour, or next day countrywide.
- What does Neethlingshof Unwooded Chardonnay 75cl taste like?
Dry and fresh, with ripe citrus, white peach, pear and a touch of melon and tropical fruit. Because there's no oak, it stays clean and fruity with bright acidity and a crisp finish, none of the buttery vanilla you get in oaked Chardonnay.
- What does 'unwooded' actually mean?
It means the wine never sees an oak barrel. No oak ageing, so no toasty vanilla or coconut flavours. You just get the pure Chardonnay fruit, fresher and lighter on its feet.
- What is the ABV of Neethlingshof Unwooded Chardonnay?
It's 13.5% ABV, a standard strength for a dry white wine. The bottle is 750ml.
- Is it sweet or dry?
Properly dry. There's lots of ripe fruit on the nose and palate, so it smells generous, but there's no sweetness on the finish.
- How should I serve it?
Chilled, around 8 to 10 C, in a white wine glass. A couple of hours in the fridge does it, or 20 minutes in an ice bucket in a hurry. Drink it young and fresh.
- Where is it from?
Neethlingshof Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, one of the country's oldest wine farms, founded in 1692.
Neethlingshof Chardonnay (Unwooded) 75cl
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Neethlingshof Chardonnay (Unwooded) 75cl price in Kenya
Buy Neethlingshof Chardonnay (Unwooded) 75cl online in Nairobi, Kenya for KSh 2,799. Order now for fast delivery across Nairobi — usually within 30 minutes — or next-day delivery countrywide.