La Motte Sauvignon Blanc has become a go-to white wine in many households. It is a regular find on wine racks and in fridges and it is often the choice white wine for both informal get-togethers and special celebrations. And it is not difficult to understand why. Not only is the style of the wine accessible with beautiful fruit and a crisp acidity, but it is versatile and just as easily pairs on the dinner table as it refreshes next to the pool. Other than these endearing qualities, however, there is one characteristic that makes the La Motte Sauvignon Blanc a popular choice: its reliability. But, in a world where we are all for excitement and new trends and fresh perspectives, does such dependability still have a place?
A specific wine is not exactly the same vintage after vintage and in this lies its beauty and its challenge. While vintage changes, terroir influences and wine-making styles ensure wine to be a popular topic for connoisseur conversations, the novice is challenged by the array of brands, varieties and styles and is looking for a trustworthy choice. The test for a commercial wine is whether it can be both exciting and reliable.
La Motte’s approach to this challenge when it comes to the popular La Motte Sauvignon Blanc, is to stay true to the style of the wine. Yes, the tropical fruit flavours of the recently released 2016 La Motte Sauvignon Blanc might be more upfront and show earlier than in previous vintages due to a dry and warm growing season, but the style is unmistakable La Motte. Winemaking duo, Edmund Terblanche and Michael Langenhoven, each year blend grapes from various prime Sauvignon Blanc-growing areas. They manage the vineyards, closely regulate the optimum time for picking and then craft the best from each area before masterfully blending the various building blocks to comply with the quality and style expected of La Motte Sauvignon Blanc.
Even though Sauvignon Blanc from cooler growing areas make out 30% of the blend, keeping in mind that the acidity of Sauvignon Blanc can be influenced by exceptionally warm conditions like we had this year, a portion (10%) of Semillon was included in the blend. Semillon’s exceptional refreshing character beautifully balances the integrated fruit flavours and ensure complexity and longevity. The result is a versatile wine with a refreshing character, ideal as an aperitif but with enough substance to hold its own as a partner to food.
The 2016 La Motte Sauvignon Blanc consists of grapes from Franschhoek (35%), Stellenbosch (35%), Elgin (15%) and Walker Bay (15%). Grapes were harvested between 17 and 23 degrees Balling and was cold fermented at 14 °C. The wine stayed on the lees for three months to ensure complexity before blending of the various Sauvignon Blanc components as well as the portion of Semillon.
On the nose, expect gooseberries, pineapple, lime and wild grass. The palate is well balanced and follows through as a polished wine with a dry, refreshing finish.
The first batch (126 000 x 6 x 750 ml) of 2016 La Motte Sauvignon Blanc were released in May 2016.
2016 La Motte Sauvignon Blanc sells from the La Motte Tasting Room at R65 / bottle.
Analysis:
Alc 12.07% Vol
RS 1.54 g/l
TA 5.98 g /l
pH 3.46
