2018 Elgin Ridge 282 Sauvignon

Country: South Africa

Region: Elgin Valley

Type: White

Producer: Marion and Brian Smith

Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Bottle Size: 75cl

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 14.5%

Sweet pear, blackcurrant on the nose while on the palate flavours of candied citrus, pear, sweet melon, lime undertone with rich and textured finish and well-integrated acid. The wine is part barrel fermented and aged giving it a rich, soft, and creamy texture which the acidity balances out well. The flavours are deep and complex, the balance is excellent and the Sauvignon Blanc crispness is beautifully interwoven with oak. The yields are low and so the abv is high but you don’t taste or feel it.

Biodynamic, Organic, Vegan, Low Sulfur

Their small farm is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir… and some apples. Their intention is to keep things small and focused at Elgin Ridge, using no chemicals and letting the ducks (which they hatch on the farm, and hence feature in their label) play a prominent role in pest control. Organic certification has been acquired and The Elgin Valley is one the South Africa’s ideal wine-growing regions for many reasons: A unique confluence of diverse micro-climates with close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean; cooling cloud cover and high altitude and cold winters and adequate rainfall with complex, ancient soils. Grapes in Elgin take longer to ripen on the vines, which means low pH, good natural acidity and perfectly balanced ripe flavours.