Renowned Elgin trailblazer, Paul Clüver Family Wines, has once again solidified its status as a premier Chardonnay producer in South Africa, achieving a coveted gold medal and an exceptional 97-point rating at the esteemed International Wine Challenge (IWC) held in London. The lauded accolade was bestowed upon their iconic Paul Clüver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021.
Within the extensive array of entries from global wine-producing regions, a mere 15 South African wines clinched gold at this prominent wine event. Notably, Paul Clüver’s Seven Flags Chardonnay secured the highest score among all Cape wines entered. Further enhancing their distinction, the esteemed Elgin winery also clinched an IWC gold for their Paul Clüver Noble Late Harvest Riesling 2021.
This latest triumph for Paul Clüver’s Seven Flags Chardonnay continues the wine’s streak of international successes, building on the 2020 vintage’s recognition with a Platinum Award at the prior year’s Decanter World Wine Awards.
Andries Burger, the cellarmaster at Paul Clüver Wines, underscores the winery’s unwavering dedication to the Burgundian Chardonnay variety, a commitment that traces back to Dr. Paul Clüver’s pioneering efforts in introducing Chardonnay to Elgin’s cool-climate landscape in 1987.
Burger highlights the advantageous legacy of Dr. Paul Clüver’s groundwork, which has provided the cellar team access to a diverse range of vines spanning ages from five to 35 years. These vines flourish in Bokkeveld Shale soils, with cool clay beds that thrive at altitudes ranging from 280 to 350 meters above sea level. This unique terroir lends the Chardonnay a distinctive and visceral expression of Elgin’s geography, forming the essence of a fine wine.
Paul Clüver’s Seven Flags Chardonnay, the emblematic Chardonnay offering, stands as a testament to distinction and quality, a recognition that resonates profoundly with the IWC’s accolades. This acknowledgment arrives at a moment when South Africa is emerging as a key player in the global Chardonnay landscape.
Burger expresses his gratitude for the honor, acknowledging the dedicated efforts of the cellar and vineyard teams, as well as the pivotal role played by the Clüver family in propelling Elgin onto the global wine map.
The Paul Clüver Seven Flags Chardonnay is sourced from the estate’s oldest Chardonnay vineyards, dating back to 1987. The grapes undergo a meticulous process: whole-bunch pressed, settling naturally without any agents, and undergoing 100% non-inoculated fermentation in a selection of French oak barrels (36% new, the remainder 2nd and 3rd fill). The wine matures on the lees for nine months without any sulphur addition, with minimal lees stirring.
Burger characterizes the Paul Clüver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021 as a classic expression of Elgin’s terroir. Despite its bone-dry nature with a residual sugar of 2.5 g/l, the wine presents captivating fruit notes that harmonize with the lean minerality of a vivacious, fresh, and invigorating Chardonnay. Its regal and statuesque structure remains emblematic of the Seven Flags lineage. Burger emphasizes that the distinctive character of site-specific fruit, such as Elgin Chardonnay, is shaped by the terroir, an immutable force that holds the final sway over style and character.
