Key Takeaways
- Result: The Thamnus Chardonnay 2023 scores 95 points and earns a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026, marking a second consecutive year of recognition.
- Selection: A score that places the label in the top 2% among more than 17,000 samples judged blind.
- Production: Vineyard sited at 285 metres above sea level in the Overberg, near Walker Bay, under the care of winemaker P.J. Geyer.
The Numbers
Ninety-five points out of a hundred. The verdict from the DWWA 2026 panel places the Thamnus Chardonnay 2023 within the top 2% of performers among more than 17,000 wines assessed through blind tasting. This confirms the result achieved the previous year—not a one-off.
The Production Site
The vineyard sits at 285 metres above sea level, at coordinates -33.9249, 18.4241, in the Overberg region bordering Walker Bay. Harvest is concentrated into a single day in February. Immediate pressing follows, with nine months of barrel ageing in barrique, 29% of which is new oak—calibrated to manage tannic structure without masking the fruit.
Sensory Profile
The palate opens with apple and lemon, layered with a note of white linen. The texture is creamy, drifting toward honeyed nuances on the mid-palate. The finish carries mineral, shell-like notes alongside a pronounced salinity, consistent with the vineyard's proximity to the sea.
Technical Implications
Repeating this result across two consecutive vintages shifts the focus from the individual wine to the method behind it: barrel management, harvest timing, and control of the saline component as a distinctive signature of the site.
