This elegant white has aromas of apple, vanilla and green herbs. The palate shows restraint and structure, but the mouthfeel is creamy and the fruit balanced and not overpowered by the wine’s tightness. Overall, a poised wine with extra food pairing potential.——S.K.(6/1/2009)—— 90

Subdued yet elegant, with a heavily oaked, toasty vanilla nose. Big and plump in the mouth, this wine retains a creamy feel, its tropical fruit flavors taking some time to emerge. The long, lingering finish attests to the wine’s depth of character. Imported by Vineyard Brands. ——M.D.(7/1/2006)—— 90

While Neil Ellis’s winery is in Stellenbosch, he gets his Chardonnay for this wine from the cooler region of Elgin. It has sweet, almost tropical-fruit aromas, followed through with spicy, creamy, wood flavors and ripe, generous acidity. Despite its richness, it also has delicacy, as much in the finely judged use of wood as in the clean, elegant fruit. ——R.V.(7/1/2002)—— 91