David Finlayson Camino Africana Chardonnay 2022
Praline, cookie dough and slightly under-ripe pineapple are some of the initial aromatics that get your attention. The palate is medium in weight and quite expansive, with warm praline and honeysuckle notes, atop a firm mineral, savory platform. Hints of peach poke their way through the cookie dough notes as well. The wine stays fresh and long on the palate – almost clingy, is the effect of the acid notes. Classy stuff that will age well and soften further in time, gaining generosity as it does.
5 Stars, 95 Points – Platter’s South African Wine Guide
“The 2022 Camino Africana Shale Terraces Chardonnay features a gorgeous nose with sweet citrus, Marcona almond, underripe peach and subtle pine notes, all contributing to an elegant and mineral-driven profile. Medium-bodied, the wine unfolds in complex layers, fresh with substantial acidity. It lingers pleasantly, offering notes of lemon pastry cream and lees. Nicely done. The wine aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. This vintage produced 5,400 bottles.”
– Anthony Mueller
92 points – The Wine Advocate
“Grapefruit, apples, lemons and hazelnuts on the nose with a kiss of flint. Medium-bodied, bright and gently toasty, with a cool and creamy finish. Drink now or hold.”
91 points – James Suckling
“Sourced from the shale terraces that are part of its name, this is an intense, waxy, layered
Stellenbosch Chardonnay that was entirely fermented in new French oak. Pear, orange zest and vanilla spice flavours dovetail nicely with fresh acidity and underlying minerality.
2023-27”
90 points – Tim Atkin
This vineyard is 20 years old and was planted by David Finlayson on terraces he cut into the steepest hillside on his home (Edgebaston) property in Stellenbosch. The trellis system is low to the ground and uncommon in South Africa as it produces very low yields and small bunches. The vineyard is hand farmed and processed only with organic principles in mind. It has been a 17 year project that is now beginning to deliver the results. David – “This wine signifies something truly special to me as a winemaker and is part of my journey in life and wine in South Africa, hence the name, Camino Africana, (The African Way)”.
