Spring is well underway and now it’s time to look forward to everyone’s favourite Summer wine – Sauvignon Blanc.
2015 was a stellar vintage for almost everyone and at first glance it seems that many winemakers took advantage of near-perfect conditions to craft superb wines.
Here are a few 2015 Sauvignon Blancs which have crossed my path recently.
1. Bon Courage Gooseberry Bush Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R50)
Did you know there are two kinds of gooseberry? What we in SA normally call a gooseberry is properly-known as a Cape Gooseberry or physalis as opposed to the green English gooseberry which tastes quite different. I think this one is being proudly South African because the wine is full of lovely tropical flavours, clean and fresh. Great price for an all-day Summer-sipper.
2. Fleur du Cap Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R58)
One of the nice things about making wine for a big company is access to diverse parcels of fruit. This is particularly useful for Sauvignon which tends not to use oak to add complexity, relying instead on different terroirs offering different perspectives. This is a great wine for Summer with multiple layers of fruit making it versatile and food-friendly. Smart new packaging as well!
3. Perdeberg Vineyard Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R60)
Perdeberg is probably better-known for award-winning/amazing value Chenin but they have several strings to their bow and one of them is this exclusive range for Pick n Pay. I really like this wine – it’s sort of serious with lots of grown-up flavours whilst still being fresh and appetising. Plenty of guava and grass, making for a tasty mouthful.
4. Doolhof Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R68)
Launched earlier this year at a great matching-lunch at La Mouette – yummy combinations proving that yes, Sauvignon CAN go with food! Of course you don’t have to drink and eat at the same time. With its light, flowery, tropical notes, this is just as yummy savoured on its own, on the stoep, or on a sunny afternoon.
5. Dombeya Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R70)
This is the easy-drinking, lipsmackingly-juicy range from Haskell Vineyards (yes, those are the official descriptions I believe!) – not exactly a second label which implies lesser-quality, more that they are made to be enjoyed young and fresh. And young and fresh is exactly what’s happening here – this is lovely stuff – crisp and lively with loads of tropical notes and a touch of richness.
6. Lomond Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R70)
Coming from the coolest part of SA, way down in Agulhas, this is the estate blend as opposed to the two stellar single vintage Sauvvies (coming soon……). It’s teeth-tinglingly fresh and clean, singing of cool breezes and sunny afternoons. Packed with citrus and zest, it’s a great wine to enjoy with shellfish and seafood of all kinds.
7. Fryers Cove Doring Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R80)
This is a new release from West Coast winery Fryers Cove and involves grapes from a couple of selected ultra-cool climate sites such as Lutzville and Elands Bay. It’s got fresh and zesty green pea and grass aromas and since it arrived on my doorstep with an accompanying tin of sardines, I think it’s fair to say that seafood is probably going to be the best match!
8. Springfield Special Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (R85)
Is there ever a year that Springfield DON’T make amazing Sauvignons? I know many of you out there prefer the Life from Stone but I promise you – this is the one you should be drinking first. This is the restrained one, the elegant one, the one with seamless citrus fruit and steely minerality. The fresh one – the best one – honestly, switch to the Special Cuvée and I guarantee you’ll never go back!
Happy Summer sipping everyone!