"Tim Jackson MW writes......
I have been particularly taken by the quality and style of Iona's Chardonnay. Though there are of course variations between producers, there are commonalities that are drawing me to explore the region’s wines in more depth. First, a purity of fruit that finds a delicate balance between ripeness of the sunny Cape and freshness – often as a mix of ripe lemon and white peach. Second, a crystalline thread of acidity that really lifts the palate. TJ Nov 2019."
At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.
In a country where cool climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. There is an extremely long growing season, allowing Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The approach is hands off and the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices with a particular focus on ensuring the health of the soils whilst pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.
The Chardonnay is produced from 2 North-facing vineyards on the western boundary of the estate, both planted in 2003. The cool climate ensures long, slow physiological ripening of the grapes under ideal growing conditions, with the sugar, ph, acids, tannins and flavour compounds being in perfect balance to produce elegant, low alcohol wines of distiction. Harvested in March.
