The wine is a blend of 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12 % Semillon. The grapes for this wine come from Elim. These vineyards fall under the new origin of Cape South Coast and are some of the most southerly vineyards in Africa.
The 2024 grape growing season began with a memorable winter marked by two significant storms that reshaped the Franschhoek Valley, leaving some vineyards damaged or completely washed away. As the growing season unfolded, it started off steadily but was initially slowed by extended cool temperatures. The moisture brought some disease pressure, yet the winds that followed helped alleviate these concerns. With a warm, dry summer, the vineyards regained momentum, leading to an earlier harvest than in the past two years. Elim had much warmer average temperature during ripening than other years and quality was very good.
The vineyards are meticulously trained and managed to achieve a harmonious balance in both leaf coverage and crop load. Ongoing canopy management is essential to effectively address disease pressure. The soil predominantly originates from shale and exhibits a gravelly topsoil, complemented by layers of clay or coffee rock beneath. The prevailing cool conditions contribute to maintaining low fertility, resulting in a typical crop load of around 6 tons/ha.
The grapes were harvested at a sugar content between 21 - 23 degrees Balling. Skin contact period of approximately 16 hours was permitted during processing. Fermentation occurred at 15 degrees Celsius, after which the wine was separated from the coarse lees and left on the fine lees for a duration of 2 months, followed by blending. The final product was bottled in June 2024, and a total of 4000 cases of 6 bottles were released.
This wine is made from grapes from the southernmost vineyards in Africa. The cool climate of the wine imparts aromas of citrus and passion fruit that are prominent. Other varietal characteristics that stands out include green pepper and gooseberry aromas. The palate is very elegant and finishes with a mineral-like quality.
Alcohol 13,18% vol
Residual sugar 2,3 g/l
Total acid 6,1 g/l
pH 3,28
