Wine master Allan Mullins says today's Chardonnays are less acidic and more food-friendly. Here are three of his favourites.

ARENDSIG 2009
Lourens Van Der Westhuizen is a winemaker’s winemaker with an infectious enthusiasm for his vines and wines.

His 1999 Chardonnay is harvested at three stages – the first adding citrus notes to the nose, the second providing balance and the third supplying complexity and tropical fruit.

His aim is to express the Chardonnay fruit rather than the oak character and this succeeds with citrus and ripe green melon on the nose and a firm-textured palate.
CELLAR PRICE: R68

LISMORE CHARDONNAY 2008
There is a buzz at Lismore Estate in the new ward of Greyton as wines from its 14 hectares of vines soar in popularity.

To quote Californian winemaker Samantha O’ Keefe: "Vines planted at 300 meters, chilled by the winter snow and nourished by the African summer sun, produce classic cool-climate wines which are rich, complex and lovingly hand crafted".

The restrained minerality, intense fruit core and persistent finish of the 2008 Chardonnay verify this.
CELLAR PRICE: R145

BARTINNEY CHARDONNAY 2008
Perched on the slopes of the Helshoogte Pass, Bartinney was bought in 1996 by FNB CEO Michael Jordaan.

With Michael’s wife Rose attending the vineyards and Therese De Beer making the wines, Chardonnay has flourished.

The 2008 is pale gold with a green tinge, with apricot blossoms, granadilla, pineapple and coconut on the nose and gentle oak vanilla and spice on the palate.
CELLAR PRICE: R95