Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is a terroir-specific wine, produced using grapes from a prime block at our vineyards on the cool hill tops out Darling. It shows crisp fruit and rich minerality.

IN THE VINEYARD:

Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the cool rolling hills outside Darling, on the Cape west coast. These trellised Atlantic vineyards on deep red oakleaf soil are amongst the finest Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in South Africa. Dryland farming and careful selected blocks result in Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional depth, flavour and character.

HARVEST DATE: Mid February 2014

WINEMAKING:

Grapes from trellised vineyards were picked at between 23.7 degree Balling. Harvesting was done partly by hand and party by machine harvester and yields varied from 5 to 8 tons per hectare. The machine harvester was used during the night, ensuring the grapes arrived at the cellar cool. The bunches were destalked and crushed under reductive conditions, into static drainers and press. The skins were pressed at 0.9 bar of pressure and the juice was cold settled for 24 hours, prior to fermentation. Cold fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 10, 5 – 12 Degree Celsius. No malolactic fermentation was allowed and the wine was left on its lees for two months before being bottled

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:

The 2014 vintage showed good expression of cool climate style Sauvignon Blanc, with its complex limey minerality and refreshing acidity. The wines are expressive early but will be at their best after a year or two in bottle. Charl du Plessis

TASTING NOTE:

Tropical and grapefruit notes on the nose, with typical Darling lime character. Intense lingering mouthfeel reminiscent of the cool climate granite soils of this dryland farmed vineyard.

[Category: Spice Route, White Wines]