variety : Sauvignon Blanc [ 100% Sauvignon Blanc ]
winemaker : De Wet Viljoen
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.21 % vol rs : 2.4 g/l pH : 3.51 ta : 6.5 g/l
type : White style : Dry body : Full wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : The south-facing, 3,97ha vineyard that provided the grapes for this wine, was established in 1997, with vines grafted onto Richter 110 rootstock. Sited between 120m and 180m above sea level, it is exposed to the cooling effect of the south-westerly winds blowing off False Bay in summer. The vineyard, in which an “open canopy” approach is employed, is shared with some graceful duiker, small antelope that live among the vines. The slow-ripening grapes were harvested late to obtain a concentrated intensity of flavour.
in the cellar : An average of 4 tons per ha were hand-harvested at the end of February, at 23° Balling. The grapes were not crushed but taken directly to an enclosed press where the juice was gently squeezed out in the presence of carbon dioxide to limit its exposure to oxygen and thus the possibility of oxidation. The juice was allowed to settle before fermentation which took place over a period of three weeks at 12° C. The wine was bottled in May 2012.