Aslina Chardonnay 2022/24, Western Cape

Ntsiki Biyela was South Africa's first black female winemaker. In 2009, she was crowned Woman Winemaker of the Year, and that just adds to her countless plaudits and awards. Today, she's head winemaker and director at Aslina Wines. And you can certainly taste her expertise in this wine. Ntsiki sources the grapes from both warm and cool climate sites, rests the wine on texture-imparting lees and treats it to a restrained use of oak. This makes for a fruity, complex and full Chardonnay that's reminiscent of a top Pouilly-Fuissé. Expect intense flavours of white peach, tropical fruits and lime. Its lightly oaked character makes it a real treat with roasted chicken and grilled vegetables.