THE MOST highly rated Chardonnay in Platter's 2025 South African Wine Guide: the 2022 vintage from Iona in the Elgin Highlands. It follows the 2021, which was a 97-pointer at the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), and at the time of writing there wasn't much of it left at the cellar of Andrew and Rozy Gunn, who were preparing for the launch of the 2023.
This is the highest winery in Elgin, and in terms of average temperature readings, among THE coolest wine estates in the country. According to what Platter's critics chose as their nine absolute favourite Chardonnays, and considering the two dozen or so SA Chardonnays that achieved the best reviews in the top panel tastings locally and internationally in 2024, clearly Elgin is tough to beat as a great place to farm this variety.
It's a pity that Iona is generally closed to the public on weekends: tastings, sales and tours are offered Monday to Friday (Saturday and public holidays by appointment). The beauty of the countryside off the beaten track to the south of the Elgin district makes a visit well worthwhile (as does the wine of course). The conventional route to the Gunns place on entering the Elgin winelands near Grabouw in the north of the district is to exit the N2 freeway at the Peregrine Farm Stall, travel along the Viljoenshoop Road for 5km and then along Highlands Road for a further 16.5km, including a fair bit of dirt road. Another way to get there is to approach from the south via the R43 between Bot River and Hermanus, exit onto the R44 to Kleinmond and then, shortly afterwards, turn onto Highlands Road and travel north-west to your destination.
IONA CHARDONNAY 2022
WO Elgin. Vineyards planted between 2003 and 2009 on an elevated plateau, around 420m above sea level, about 5km from the Atlantic Ocean. Soil comprising gavel, sandstone and silica quartz with underlying clay. Grapes picked on 18, 23 and 24 March. Wild fermentation in 300L and 228L French oak barrels (20% new, the rest 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-fill). Wine remained on the lees (spent yeast sediment) for 11 months, with 10% undergoing malolactic fermentation, after which it was racked and blended in stainless steel tanks (45% Kloof vineyard, 26% Fynbos vineyard, 22% Kraal vineyard and 7% Block F4). Fined and stabilised for three months before bottling
Alc 12.9 | RS 1.7 | TA 6.9 | pH 3.4
From the Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Burgundian, with bright citrus, white stone fruit, oyster-shell minerality and a hint of brioche. Well-judged oak and bright, fresh acidity. Layered and complex with a lingering finish.
Maturation Potential: While this Chardonnay can be enjoyed from the time of release, it will continue to develop for at least 10 years.
Food Pairing Suggestions: soufflé starter or, as a main course, mussels or salmon fish cakes on wilted greens with crusty bread, and also goes well with almond, ricotta and lemon cake.
R405pb ex-cellar.
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If you’re wondering how the 2022 Iona Chardonnay is described in Platter’s 2025 SA Wine Guide, MW Cathy van Zyl’s tasting notes include the following: “Commendable weight and depth despite bone-dryness and alc of less than 13%. All elements in harmony, from toasty oak richness to vibrant acidity, array of citrus and fynbos scents and flavours.”