Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2011

By , 12 February 2018

Last week a vertical tasting of both the Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve and the Sauv-Sem blend called Isliedh incorporating the 2011 to 2016 vintages.

Both wines are in fact blends, the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc including anything from 3% Semillon in the case of the 2014 vintage to 13% in the case of the 2011 and 2012 vintages while the proportion of Semillon varied from 16% in the case of the 2016 to 31% in the case of the 2014.

An important take-away from the exercise was that somewhat counter-intuitively the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (from vineyards lower down the mountain-side property) tended to be richer and more full bodied than Isliedh (from higher, more windswept vineyards).

Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2011

Serene.

In most instances, I preferred the Reserve to Isliedh, if only just, but the 2011 vintage of the latter was stupendously good. A blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon, the nose showed top notes of citrus blossom and fynbos before black currant, peach and red apple with a touch of mushroom in the background. The palate meanwhile possessed extraordinary poise – wonderfully pure fruit and fresh acidity before a long and savoury finish. Still many years ahead of it.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.

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