For me the 2020 Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc brings both increased symmetry and synergy to this well-established partnership between memorable wine and extraordinary artistic talent: The latest vintage in the Pierneef Collection presents increased layers of flavour, which well complement the diverse components and shady setting of the artist’s linocut and the timelessness of the farmstead.
Southern vineyards in Elim, Napier and the highland bowl of Elgin produced the grapes crushed for the wine left on the fine lees for five months after fermentation. The wine, to which six % semillon from Elgin was introduced, was blended and bottled in August last year.
The trend for lower alcohol levels in our white wines is followed here, being just 12,62%. While the characteristic green pepper and Cape gooseberry flavours are there, the palate is also engaged with citrus and occasional granadilla, a captivating fruit salad balanced with moderate friskiness that provides pleasing freshness. All is backed by a light-bodied core of minerality putting the seal on quality.
Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche predicts that while this new edition of a South Coast sauvignon blanc drinks beautifully already, it will, like its predecessors, offer excellent maturation potential for those who are patient with their white wines as well as their reds.
While this sauvignon blanc deserves to be enjoyed on its own at midday or at sunset, it will effortlessly enhance fare ranging from seafood to salads that sing of summer bounty. While we sip the wine the 18th century farmstead that is Kromme Rivier in Stellenbosch presents its fine main and side holbol gables from the label in an unpretentious reminder of the surviving beauty of our Cape Dutch architecture.
Note: The 2020 Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc is available from the La Motte Tasting Room or online at R149.
A versatile partner to food, do try it with steamed pork and prawn dumplings or creamy salmon pasta with spinach, capers and lemon.
