Deconstructing Sauvignon Blanc tasting results

Well, sometimes a picture tells a thousand words… this one was courtesy of one of our esteemed Guests, Harry Haddon, who also posted some AWESOME notes and observations on his blog here. Check them out!

Our lovely Guests convened on the lawns of the Roundhouse to taste some Sauvignon Blanc. The lineup included:

• Buitenverwachting
• Ingwe
• Steenberg
• Southern Right
• Villiera Bush Vine
• Bouchard Finlayson
• Lismore

Some tastings notes from our Guests (thanks @stefanluka via twitter)

• Iona Sauvignon Blanc 09, granadilla, grapefruit, floral undertones & a hint of gooseberry. Lingering aftertaste of dry orange peel. 16.5/20
• Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc 2009, scents of granadilla, green apple, peach and grapefruit, subtle minerality & long crisp finish 16/20
• Steenberg Sauvig Blanc 09, sublime tropical scents paired with crisp acidity. Lingering aftertaste of asparagus & freshly cut grass 16.5/20
• Villiera Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, refreshing, herbaceous, hints of dry apricot, peach, citrus and tropical tones. Long finish.16.5/20

One of the reasons that we love Sauvignon Blanc is that it is a blank canvas reflecting the climate and soil in which it is grown. The wines have clarity, focus and freshness, complimented by the flavours associated with the grape, like green pepper, cut grass and your smörgåsbord of tropical fruits.

Smörgåsbord. Just had to use that word again.

Something that our Guests did however agree upon was Sauvignon Blanc needs a little help from its friends. Two spring to mind, two wonderful friends, in the right doses. These are Semillon and some light oak. Paul Cluver’s new Sauvignon Blanc takes another leap forward and they credit this due to a dash more Semillon. These two wines are a true match. Sharp acidity meets oily texture, green fruit meets rich fruit. Let’s see more of that (like Steenberg, Cape Point et al have done)! Also, the Lismore Sauvignon Blanc showed off what a teeny bit of oak can do for the wine. Just a smidgen of biscuity, mineral flavours coming through, and the benefit of a “toughening up” dose of oxygen contact. Lovely complexity!

All in all, Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa is in top shape, but loneliness can easily set in when you are at the top. Let’s get some mates together for this beautiful grape!

Since it is white wine awareness month – Check out our online Sauvignon Blanc course – great sip of knowledge!