“A glass of Chardonnay, please”, once was the fashionable request after a long day at the office, over lunch or at a romantic dinner. But the popularity of this faithful took a dip when the white wine trend started moving away from heavily-oaked styles towards crisper, easy-drinking whites and for some time, ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) was the order of the day.

Recently, however, the Queen of Whites has been reclaiming her position as the most famous white wine.

With an array of styles and flavours – from a typical “Chablis” style with a flinty character, to rich and buttery or fresh and fruity, Chardonnay cannot be pinpointed that easily. And if the beauty of its natural fruit is allowed to shine through – regardless of whether it is barrel-matured or not – the elegant character and versatility of Chardonnay, makes it one of the best white wine choices.

The 2014 vintage of the Leopard’s Leap Classic Collection Chardonnay is made in an unwooded, but well-rounded style with nuances of ripe yellow apple, subtle spice and a well-integrated acidity, making it ideal as a more substantial glassful on its own and a versatile choice for the dinner table, especially with chicken, creamy sauces and citrus-infused duck.

Originating from the Robertson region with its lime-rich soils, the grapes were whole-bunch pressed, cold-fermented and allowed extended lees contact to contribute to the 2014 vintage’s unique firm structure and grapefruit and lime aromas, well-balanced by biscuit flavours.

The 2014 Leopard’s Leap Classic Collection Chardonnay sells from the tasting room at R40.