Sandstone Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Case

Elgin is South Africa’s coolest wine region. Cooler climates keep grape clusters connected to their roots for longer. Consequently, they develop more characteristics and achieve physiological ripeness more gradually, with lower sugar levels and, therefore, lower alcohols. The resultant wines leave one with an impression of delicacy, but also power and insistence over warmer-climate examples, which show bolder but less persistent flavours. Elgin vineyards sit at 305 m, the fourth highest in South Africa. The cold Atlantic lies close, profoundly influencing day/night temperatures and prevailing south-easterly winds. When these winds arrive, the South-Easter brings a cooling respite to the vineyards but also drives extensive cloud cover that the mountains trap over the region. Therefore, sunlight is blocked, temperatures drop, and grape ripening slows. About four or five times yearly, the wind is strong enough and the clouds thick enough to enable precipitation known locally as a Black South-Easter. During these events, substantial rainfall can fall throughout the day. Conversely, on calmer, warmer days, cool coastal breezes move in from the sea as warm air over the land rises. As a result, temperatures drop quickly in the afternoon and into the night, helping maintain acid levels in the grapes. Consequently, the grapes remain on the vine longer, extending the ripening period and resulting in natural balance and complex, powerful flavours.