Leeu Passant Radicales Libres 2016

Producer

Leeu Passant

Wine

Radicales Libres

Vintage

2016

Country

South Africa

Region

Klein Karoo

Subregion

Tradouw Highlands, Barrydale

Grapes

Chardonnay

Format

750 ml

Character

Complex and distinctive, with remarkable fruit depth, concentration and an individual character shaped by extended maturation.

TCJ assessment

A Chardonnay of unusual personality, with a particularly compelling complexity of fruit. There is concentration and depth from the outset, but the wine remains detailed and precise, with maturity adding another dimension to its expression.

The fruit for Radicales Libres comes from the Tradouw Highlands near Barrydale in the Klein Karoo. The 2016 was matured for five years in old barrels using an oxidative approach, a method that gives important context to the wine’s singular profile.

What makes the wine particularly compelling is the combination of fruit complexity, concentration and individuality. The extended maturation has not erased the fruit, but added layers around it, resulting in a Chardonnay with considerable personality and a style that sits well outside conventional expressions of the variety.