Simonsig Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2015

ageing : Further development of flavours should take place in 12 to 24 months after the vintage, but the fruitiness is more pronounced early on.

Background
Simonsig first bottled a Sauvignon blanc in 1978, but it has only been in the last 10 years that the variety has started to reach its full potential. Meticulous attention to site and clonal selection as well as optimal canopy management in the vineyard consistently results in quality grapes packed with flavour. Terroir plays a significant role when it comes to the quality of Sauvignon blanc. Over the last few years new Sauvignon blanc plantings were made on the coolest site on the Estate. At an altitude of 250 - 280 meters the vineyards overlook False Bay a mere 20 km away to the South.

Style of Wine
Dry White Varietal Wine

The 2015 harvest is definitely one for the books. We had the earliest start in decades. Warmer weather in August resulted in earlier bud break, after which a warm, dry windy summer accelerated ripening by approximately two weeks. The dry weather also led to a very healthy vintage. We started picking Sauvignon blanc on the 27th of January from our own vineyards and finished the 18th of February with grapes from the Walker Bay region. After spreading our Sauvignon blanc wings in 2014, which was our first vintage purchasing Sauvignon blanc grapes from Walker Bay we added Durbanville and Elim to our Sauvignon blanc profile. The excitement amongst the winemakers was unstoppable. It also pushed the winemakers blending skills to the limit, capturing each region, showcasing their unique expression of fruit.

Region
32% Darling
27% Durbanville
19% Stellenbosch
13% WalkerBay
9% Elim