David Finlayson Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2019

David Finlayson’s 2019 Stellenbosch Chardonnay (90 Points – Tim Atkin, MW) is a smooth, delightfully balanced Chardonnay that offers elegance, complexity, and plenty of delicious flavors reminiscent of Meursault, France’s quintessential Burgundian Chardonnay. Sourced from four distinct vineyard sites comprised of both French and California Chardonnay clones, the 2019 David Finlayson Chardonnay delights the nose and palate with a mouthwatering mélange of freshly baked bread and mountain apples with superbly integrated splashes of lime, exotic fruits, and cinnamon, all artfully wrapped in the lightest patina of oak. A finely tuned minerality adds subtle complexity and a wonderfully long, dry finish. For optimal enjoyment we suggest serving the 2019 David Finlayson Stellenbosch Chardonnay only moderately chilled (40°-45° F). Anticipated maturity: 2021-2024. Enjoy!

This 2019 David Finlayson Stellenbosch Chardonnay requires nothing but a clean, full glass in order to please, but this classy wine is equally at home at the table in the company of the finest of fare. Poultry, pork, and rich seafood dishes make splendid accompaniments. Braised Quail with Garden Vegetables, Roast Loin of Pork with Cinnamon Apple Sauce, and Cedar Plank Salmon with Roasted Fennel provide gustatory delights when paired with David Finlayson’s highly acclaimed Chardonnay. But if you are like some of our tasting panel members and the wine won’t last until the main course or you simply prefer to sit around and sip with just a few tasty morsels, consider serving a platter of cheese and fruit. Apples, pears, Havarti, Gouda, and Munster provide simple, easy to prepare companions to David Finlayson’s splendid, crowd-pleasing 2019 Stellenbosch Chardonnay. Bon Appétit!

David Finlayson and his family’s Edgebaston Stellenbosch wine estate have become synonymous with modern winemaking in South Africa. Originally from Scotland, the Finlayson family has for three generations made outstanding wines in Stellenbosch and has in recent years been instrumental in transforming the Cape wine industry from a dwindling domestic business to a thriving international venture receiving worldwide acclaim. Recently, after much prompting, David Finlayson is bottling his family’s Edgebaston estate wines under this own name to much deserved critical acclaim.

The Finlayson family is often cited as South Africa’s first family of wine for their impressive credentials and multigenerational contributions to the South African wine industry. David’s father Walter made wine at South Africa’s Blaauwklippen winery for more than 15 years where he twice garnered “Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year” awards in addition to a host of other prestigious awards. While still at Blaauwklippen, Walter purchased the now renowned Glen Carlou farm in Paarl, which he and son David transformed into one of South Africa’s leading wineries. Subsequently, Walter has become best known for producing South Africa’s wine of the year in 2005.

David Finlayson continues the family’s winemaking legacy. In addition to his award winning work at Glen Carlou, David honed his winemaking skills at a number of prestigious addresses. David performed winemaking stints at Peter Lehmann, one of Australia’s iconic wineries, and in France at world renowned Château Margaux before returning to South Africa. In 2003 Walter and David sold their shares in Glen Carlou and purchased what is now Edgebaston, a beautiful estate on the hills overlooking Stellenbosch, South Africa’s premier appellation and burgeoning wine town. From the beginning, critics have lauded David Finlayson and Edgebaston’s award winning wines for their quality, value and innovation, and we count the Finlaysons and their Edgebaston estate among our best finds. David is equally adept at fashioning award-winning Chardonnay as Cabernet Sauvignon and Rhône blends. The recently released 2019 David Finlayson Stellenbosch Chardonnay (this month’s feature) has been compared to Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, two of Burgundy’s most renowned Chardonnays wines. We invite you to taste and see why.