Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Case
R1074,00
A combination of wild and inoculated yeasts fermented in stainless-steel tanks, resulting in a clean, fresh and vibrant wine. Notes of elderflower on the nose giving way to granadilla and white stone fruit on the palate. A layered wine with a dry finish, this wine is ideal for accompanying any fish or seafood, steamed vegetable dishes or simply as a stand-alone thirst quencher.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
W.O. Elgin
The 2023 vintage proved one of the most challenging in recent history. Many 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. In March, traditionally the busiest harvest month, over 600 ml of rain fell constantly over three weeks. The harvest stopped for an entire month while we waited for 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 overnight and then racked into a different tank, the juice was allowed to warm up slowly, with natural fermentation kicking in a few days later. The grapes showed a glucose/fructose imbalance, so we used a fructophilic yeast to avoid stuck fermentation. Fermentation lasted just over 16 days and stayed between 16 °C and 18 °C throughout. We matured the wine on the lees in the same tank for four months prior to bottling. We prevented malolactic fermentation 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. Though 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 seafood, 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.
Alcohol: 13%• Total acid: 5.9 • Residual sugar: 1.7 • pH: 3.3
