Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R179,00 – R1074,00
Ripe yellow stone fruit and tropical aromas, layer with minerality tones.
A well-rounded, full delicate palate with well balanced acidity and a layered long finish.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
W.O. Elgin
The 2023 Vintage proved to be one of the most challenging of recent history. Many have described it as a Year of two harvests; before the rain and after the rain. Though we expect cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than most other wine-producing regions, the 2023 harvest was extremely challenging. The month of March (which is traditionally the busiest period during harvest) saw over 600mls of rain, falling constantly over a three-week period. The harvest literally stopped for an entire month as we waited for the later-ripening varietals to assimilate the water and ripen, before the onslaught of fungal pressure.
Thankfully, we picked the Sauvignon Blanc grapes at around 21.5 Balling, a week before the rain was due to start. The berries were removed from the stems and lightly crushed prior to filling the press. The grapes were pressed and separated from their skins, with the subsequent juice being sent into a stainless-steel tank at 12°C. Settled over-night and then racked into a different tank, the juice was allowed to warm up slowly, with the natural fermentation kicking a few days later. The grapes had a Glucose / Fructose imbalance so a Fructophilic yeast was used to ensure no stuck fermentations. The fermentation took just over 16 days in total and remained between 16°C – 18°C throughout the duration of the process. The wine was then matured on the lees in the same tank for a further four months prior to bottling. Malolactic fermentation was prevented from occurring in order to maintain the acidity and freshness of the wine.
This process has resulted in a textured and refreshing wine with an alcohol of 13.0% vol, offering a layered mid-palate with a bone-dry finish. Hints of granadilla and white-stone fruit give way to a zippy, clean finish. Thought the body of the wine is quite complex, the overall impression is that of elegance and restraint.
Though perfect to consume on its own as a refreshing thirst-quencher, this wine has enough depth and complexity to pair with a multitude of dishes including any fish or sea-food, steamed vegetable dishes, particularly fresh asparagus with a sprinkling of lightly grilled Parmesan cheese. Light and refreshing this is the perfect quaffer at the end of a long, hot afternoon. Â
Alcohol: 13%• Total acid: 5.9 • Residual sugar: 1.7 • pH: 3.3
