“The Swartland presents so many new opportunities and we are discovering new pockets of soil each vintage” Charles Back
Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is a terroir-specific wine, produced using grapes from a prime block at our vineyards on the cool hill tops out Darling. It shows crisp fruit and rich minerality.
IN THE VINEYARD:
Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the cool rolling hills outside Darling, on the Cape west coast. These trellised Atlantic vineyards are on deep red oakleaf soils, and are amongst the finest Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in South Africa. Dryland farming and careful site selection result in Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional depth, flavour and character.
HARVEST DATE: 10th – 23rd February 2009
WINEMAKING:
Grapes from trellised dryland vineyards were picked at between 22.6 and 24.0 degrees balling. Harvesting was done partly by hand and partly by machine harvester and yields varied from 5 to 6.5 tons per hectare. The machine harvester was used during the night, ensuring the grapes arrived at the cellar cool. The bunches were destalked and crushed under reductive conditions, into static drainers and a membrane press. Skins were pressed at 0.9 bar of pressure and the juice was cold settled for 48 hours. Cold fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. No malolactic fermentation was allowed and the wine was left on its’ lees for two months before being bottled.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:
The 2009 is, to date, the best that I have seen from these Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. The 2008 vintage had its challenges, with rain during the harvest. So it is really encouraging to see that the 2009 wine is looking excellent. The wines are expressive early on but will be at their best after 10 to 12 months in the bottle. Charl du Plessis
TASTING NOTE:
Explosion of fresh figs and gooseberries on the nose, with hints of green pepper. Palate is richly flavoured, with fruit following through and balanced by zesty acidity and flinty minerality. It has a long and full finish.
