The second vintage of the Oak Valley Chardonnay 2006, released last year by Oak Valley Estate, situated in the Elgin Valley, has won a Gold Medal at the London-based International Wine Challenge. This is hardly surprising when one considers the fact that the highly-esteemed Jancis Robinson* ranked this wine among South Africa's top three white wines.  This rave review followed a tasting in London of all the 2008 Johan Platter guide's 4 1/2 and 5-star wines.

The International Wine Challenge, with over 9 000 entries from 40 countries, is the largest wine competition in the world. Oak Valley was the only South African winery to receive a Gold for their Chardonnay (2006). In addition, only five other SA wines (four whites and a red) were awarded Gold across all categories at the illustrious competition. Moreover, only 14 other Chardonnays worldwide received Gold Medals (10 from France and 4 from Australia).

Oak Valley owner, Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen, and winemaker, Pieter Visser, are needless to say, over the moon about this prestigious achievement: "What really adds gloss to the Gold Medal for our Chardonnay 2006 is that this is Oak Valley Wines' third international accolade in three years. Last year, in its maiden vintage, the Oak Valley Blend 2004 (a Merlot dominant Bordeaux-style blend) won the International Trophy for the best Bordeaux-style blend at the highly esteemed Decanter World Wine Awards. In 2006 the Oak Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2005 won the Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Sauvignon Blancs under £10, and was runner-up for the International Trophy in this category."

The Oak Valley Chardonnay 2006 was made from 16-year-old vines situated on the lower south-west facing slopes of the Groenlandberg foothills. The grapes were de-stemmed, crushed, pressed and settled for two days followed by natural fermentation in new French oak barrels. Thereafter, the wine underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wine was then matured for nine months in 40% new French oak, with 2nd- and 3rd-fill barrels for balance. The colour of this elegant Chardonnay is pale yellow infused with a green tinge. White pear, grapefruit and lime reflect on the nose with nutty wood flavours also featuring on the palate. This finely-balanced wine is well integrated and complex, and shows elegant minerality. The Oak Valley Chardonnay 2006 retails at approximately R90.00 including vat.

Although Oak Valley believes it's premature to talk about Elgin terroir in the classical sense, they have been, since the initial plantings in the late 1980s, seeking out the best vineyard sites on the 1 786-hectare farm. Grapes were initially sold to other wineries: only in 2003 was the first wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, bottled under the Oak Valley label. Their philosophy is to harness those evocative natural attributes most reflective of the terroirs of the Oak Valley Estate.

*Jancis Robinson, MW (Master of Wine) and OBE (Order of the British Empire) is a highly esteemed British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She is a wine consultant to Queen Elizabeth II.