Iona Elgin Highlands Chardonnay 2023

Precise and refreshing, this Chardonnay opens with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and white peach, layered with hints of hazelnut, flint, and subtle oak spice. The palate is taut and finely textured, showing bright citrus and stone-fruit flavours supported by vivid acidity and a chalky mineral thread. Pale straw in colour, it finishes long, pure, and beautifully balanced, with a lingering touch of citrus and gentle creaminess.

Iona, situated high in the Elgin Highlands near the South African coast, is renowned for producing some of the country’s most refined cool-climate wines. The combination of altitude, ocean influence, and slow ripening allows Chardonnay to develop intensity without losing freshness. Crafted with restraint — typically including barrel fermentation and careful lees ageing — this wine showcases Elgin’s hallmark elegance, offering a style closer to fine white Burgundy than to warmer-climate interpretations.