There are wines that tell you where they come from – and then there are wines that seem to hold that place entirely in the glass. The Art of Chardonnay 2024 belongs in the second group: a small‑pocket, single‑vineyard Chardonnay from Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge that captures the quiet power, purity and poise of this cool, elevated, ocean‑influenced site.
Hand‑harvested from clay‑loam Bokkeveld shale laced with seams of quartz, the grapes arrive in small crates, are whole‑bunch pressed and then guided through a portion of wild‑yeast fermentation. Matured in finely judged French oak, the result is a wine where structure and texture feel effortless – a precise frame around a luminous core of fruit and minerality. London‑based Master of Wine Greg Sherwood has praised the 2024 Art of Chardonnay for its ‘beautiful tension and restraint that will slowly unfurl over the coming years’, placing it among the most compelling cool‑climate Chardonnays of Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge.
For the team at Creation, led by JC Martin with his precise Swiss approach to winemaking, this vintage is the calm, confident voice of a place they have farmed and studied for many years. It is a Chardonnay for those who savour nuance: the lift of citrus, a whisper of seashell salinity, the silk of lees texture, and a finish that lingers long after the last sip.
A singular pocket on Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge
The Art of Chardonnay 2024 is the apex of Creation’s Chardonnay family – a wine drawn from a single, carefully chosen pocket of vineyard, and bottled in individually numbered bottles.
Grapes from this pocket are picked by hand in small crates and whole‑bunch pressed, with around half of the juice fermenting spontaneously. Maturation takes place in a tailored mix of 70 percent second‑fill and 30 percent new French oak, selected barrel by barrel to add length and refinement while keeping the character of the Ridge at the centre of the glass. Elevation, cool maritime air from Walker Bay, and ancient quartz and clay‑loam soils work together to slow down ripening, preserve natural acidity, and shape the wine’s finely chiselled profile.
Place in every detail
Creation’s vineyards on Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge rest on ancient quartz and clay‑loam soils over Bokkeveld shale, within sight of the Atlantic Ocean. This geology and climate give the Art of Chardonnay its lifted freshness, subtle grip, and unmistakable mineral edge.
In the glass, the 2024 vintage unfolds in layers: citrus and white stone fruit, hints of oatmeal and almond from lees contact, and a saline, seashell‑like finish that speaks clearly of Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge. Oak is finely woven into the wine – a gentle line of spice and structure rather than a dominating note – allowing the vineyard to remain the quiet centre of attention.
Rarity and longevity
The Art of Chardonnay has always been made in small quantities; the 2024 release is no exception, with individually numbered bottles underscoring the fact that it is a collector’s wine, yet its balance and composure in the glass make it equally at home on the table.
Firm natural acidity, low pH and measured alcohol suggest a graceful evolution, with the promise of greater complexity and texture to come over the coming decade and beyond. For those curating a cellar around Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge and/or cool‑climate Chardonnay, it is a natural centrepiece.
Critical acclaim
The 2024 release has been widely praised by critics. Greg Sherwood MW described Creation’s 2024 wines as ‘leading the quality charge’ among premium cool‑climate wines from the Hemel‑en‑Aarde, and awarded the Art of Chardonnay 2024 96+ points. In Tim Atkin MW’s South Africa Special Report 2025, the wine earned 96 points and was named the ‘pinnacle’ of JC Martin’s Chardonnay production, celebrated for its focus, precision and mineral‑etched finish.
These accolades build on a remarkable record for the Art series, which includes a Platter’s Wine of the Year and a Decanter Wine of the Year listing for the Art of Chardonnay 2022. Taken together, they place this wine comfortably among the world’s leading cool‑climate Chardonnays.
A wine to savour
For Chardonnay lovers and collectors alike, The Art of Chardonnay 2024 invites unhurried enjoyment. It is Creation’s most elevated expression of the grape: refined, distinctive, and clearly rooted in Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge.
Whether poured now for its brightness and drive, or laid down to follow its evolution, it offers a clear, confident view of what Creation’s Ridge terroir can bring to Chardonnay. Allocations of The Art of Chardonnay 2024 are available through Creation’s online cellar and directly from the tasting room team.