Elgin Vintners Sandstone Sauvignon Blanc

W.O. Elgin

100% Sauvignon Blanc

About us Established in 2003, Elgin Vintners, situated in the cool-climate Elgin Valley, have 45 hectares of vineyards. Our main cultivars are Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. We also have Merlot and Syrah. We believe in sustainability on all fronts, in our business, vineyards, and our people. Our wines continually receive numerous high-profile globally renowned accolades and outstanding reviews from reputable wine critics. Elgin Vintners wines show exceptional poise, finesse, and elegance.

Terroir Elgin is the coolest wine region in South Africa. The benefit of cooler climates is that the grape cluster stays connected to its roots for longer, developing more characteristics and achieving physiological ripeness more gradually with lower sugar levels and consequently lower alcohols. The resultant wines leave one with an impression of delicacy, but also power and insistence over warmer-climate examples, which show bolder but less-persistent flavours. The vineyards have an altitude of 305 m, which makes this the 4th highest elevation in South Africa, considering that we are also next to the cold Atlantic ocean this has a profound influence on day/night temperatures, prevailing south-easterly winds. The South-Easter can bring a cooling respite to the vineyards of Elgin it can also bring extensive cloud cover that gets restricted by the mountains and extends back over the region, meaning that not only is sunlight blocked out but temperatures are also reduced and the ripening of grapes is slowed. In extreme cases, about four to five times a year, the wind is strong enough and the clouds thick enough to enable precipitation known locally as a Black South-Easter, dumping quite large amounts of rain often throughout the day. On top of this, on calmer warmer days, cool coastal breezes get sucked in from the sea as the warmed land air begins to rise which reduces the temperature very quickly in the afternoon and into the night. This helps maintain the acid levels in the grapes, leading to an extended ripening period on the vine with natural balance and complex and powerful flavours.

Viticulture Tucking in the growing shoots between the wires is done frequently during the growing season. Also, suckering is done twice during the growing season, early November and January. This Sauvignon blanc vineyard has a huge canopy that ensures dappled sunlight in the bunch zones which ensures the preservation of all the grape-derived aroma precursors. Two clones 316 and 317 were used for this wine.

Vinification Naturally fermented in 500L French oak barrels with extended lees contact delivers a wine with complexity, finesse, and elegance. A Sauvignon blanc true to this unique cool-climate terroir. Made in an oxidative style and fermented in 500L French oak barrels to add richness and additional complexity. The wine was given extended less contact with occasional bâtonnage, to contribute further to the rounder mouthfeel and creaminess of this elegantly textured wine. The wine was aged for nine months. The bracing acidity that is customary in New World Sauvignon Blancs and Elgin Valley, has been brought into balance with a carefully chosen pick date and the barrel fermentation, creating a full-bodied, balanced wine.

Recommendation Try lemon-herbed chicken, grilled fish with mango salsa, caprese salad (mozzarella, ripe heirloom tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil), mushroom and goat cheese tart or seafood pasta.

Concours Mondial du Sauvignon:  Gold award

Alcohol: 13.5% Residual Sugar: 1.3 Total Acid: 7.2 pH: 3.18