Cape Point Vineyards, Cape Town, Sauvignon Blanc Reserve

A richly textured Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of floral spice, cardamom and white pepper leading to generous notes of citrus fruits and a characteristic mineral finish.

Producer Note

Sauvignon Blanc specialist, Cape Point Vineyards sits among the picturesque hills and valleys in Noordhoek; land that was first discovered by the Portuguese navigator, Bartolomeu Diaz, who was swept past the Cape in a violent storm in 1488. The land was subsequently cultivated by the Dutch who landed at the Cape in 1652. Just over a century later, in 1997, Sybrand van der Spuy planted new vines in the same spot. Following extensive soil and climatic analyses, the first Sauvignon Blanc vines were pushing their roots into the soils of their new home against the south-facing slopes of Constantiaberg Mountain. Thus, Cape Point Vineyards was born. In 1998, the establishment of Cape Point Vineyards also prompted the declaration of the new Cape Point Wine of Origin District and is the only winery in this entire district. Sustainably certified by IPW, this magnificent estate, with proximity to two oceans, inspires Head Winemaker Riandri Visser, who produces stunning Sauvignon Blanc Wines of distinction.

Vineyard

The estate is positioned on the narrow Cape Peninsula, where the confluence of sea breezes from the cold Atlantic Ocean, less than one mile away, and the south-easterly breezes from False Bay, create ideal conditions for the slow ripening of grapes. The grapes for this wine are hand-selected from three sea-facing vineyard parcels in the mid-levels of the estate, where a combination of the fresh breezes and decomposed granite soils result in a wine with a distinct mineral edge. The breezes, along with good canopy management, help to keep the vines healthy and diseases at bay, reducing the need for treatments. When the winds are strong, they also control the vine’s vigour and encourage a second suckering. The topography of the Noordhoek amphitheatre is also influential. It was carved from the Silvermine mountain over time, and as a result the soils of the estate vineyards are rich with decomposed granite, limestone and kaolin, imbuing the wines with their signature mineral quality.

Winemaking

The grapes were handpicked between 22°and 23° Balling in the cool of the early hours of the morning and whole bunch pressed. The juice was allowed to settle naturally over 12 hours. The wine was 100% barrel-fermented, followed by 15 months maturation in old French oak with regular stirring to enhance the texture.

Tasting Note

An elegant Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of floral spice, cardamom and white pepper. Richly textured with generous notes of citrus and ripe nectarine through to the characteristic, lengthy mineral edge on the finish

Grape

Sauvignon Blanc 100%