Sauvignon Blanc round-up

Awesome foursome.

There is plenty of clean, fresh and ultimately forgettable Sauvignon Blanc around but here are four that stood out in a recent tasting of new releases:

Fortes Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Approximate retail price: R150
From a Napier vineyard cultivated by Neil Fortes and made by Conrad Vlok of Strandveld. Fermented and matured for six months in second- and third-fill 300-litre barrels. A wonderfully complex and subtle nose with notes of lime through granadilla and pineapple plus some leesy complexity. The palate shows concentrated fruit, zesty acidity and a savoury finish. Excellent flavour intensity to go with just the right amount of weight and texture. A must-buy for cognoscenti of the variety. Alcohol: 13%.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Lismore Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Approximate retail price: R210
From a combination of Greyton and Walker Bay grapes. Fermented in wood and concrete egg. The nose shows elderflower, yellow apple, pineapple, subtle notes of vanilla and spice plus a touch of reduction in the background. The palate is well balanced with good fruit concentration and nicely coated acidity before a savoury finish. A substantial and quite demanding wine, which is to say probably not ideal as an aperitif! Alcohol: 13.5%.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

The Fledge & Co. Jikken Bareru Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Price: R90
From 55% Stellenbosch and 45% Elgin fruit. Tank fermented. Some citrus blossom before white peach, green apple and black currant. Lovely fruit purity with bright acidity and a long, pithy finish. A very pretty wine. Alcohol: 13.23%.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Fryer’s Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Price: R260
Grapes from Bamboes Bay. Tank fermented. A pungent nose – prominent notes of cat’s pee, fynbos and dried herbs to go with white peach, tangerine and some leesy character. The palate, meanwhile, is super-rich and intense. Full bodied and creamy in texture, this is a pretty hardcore take on the variety. Alcohol: 14.12%.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

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