Lautus Chardonnay comes from Voor Paardeberg in the Western Cape, a region that suits the grape's riper, fruit-forward style. The still version (as opposed to the Sparkling Brut, which is also Chardonnay-based) sees some oak — enough to contribute a mild spice note and round out the texture without overwhelming the fruit. In the glass it's a light straw colour. The nose is citrus-led with fresh orange and kumquat; the palate follows through with summer fruit depth and that subtle oak spice in the background. The finish has a balanced acidity that stops it feeling flat or sweet, which is genuinely good going for a dealcoholised white at this price point. At 16 kcal per 100ml it's low-calorie but not watery, which suggests the spinning cone process has preserved enough body to hold the wine together. Confirmed vegan. Available via specialist UK AF retailers.