The Tops@Lifestyle Wine of the Week
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Mark Pearse and Valencia Magwaza present SURVIVOR SAUVIGNON BLANC
WINE DESCRIPTION
The 2022 vintage is a pure expression of the Elgin terroir and shows notes
of freshly crushed gooseberry, white blossom, elderflower and red grapefruit
on the nose, while the palate supports the aromas with fresh grapefruit and
subtle hints of nectarine and tropical fruits. A mouth-watering, rounded acidity
accompanies a full and long finish on the palate.
VINEYARDS
Grapes come from two vineyard blocks in the Elgin area lying at 540 meters
above sea level. The one block is planted in an east-west row direction and
the other in a north-south direction. Soils are derived from broken sandstone
and has a high clay content, which is needed for great water retention. Because
of this great water holding capacity, the vineyards can be dryland farmed. Vines
benefit from the cooling sea breezes from the Cape South Coast.
WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES
The grapes were harvested in two stages. The one block was picked at 22.5°
Balling and the other at 23.8° Balling to get different flavour spectrums. Both
were picked by hand in the early mornings, crushed, destemmed under a CO2
blanket and skins left to cold macerate in tank for 16 hours to extract the
flavour precursors. Tank was then emptied into press and the free run and
light press juice was separated from the rest. The wine was fermented in
stainless steel tanks, where the fermentation temperature was kept at around
12°C for 3 weeks. After 3 months on the fermentation lees, the wine was
racked and sulphured. Bottling took place early spring 2022.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The 2022 growing season will be remembered by how late everything happened.
Bud break was between 2 and 3 weeks later than the norm, which then in
effect led to the harvest to also start 2 weeks later. A relative cool and dry
growing season followed some late winter rains, which led to producing elegant
wines with great phenolic maturity.
FOOD PAIRING
Lightly seasoned white fish
Sushi
Vietnamese style foods
Gouda Cheese
WINE DESCRIPTION
The 2022 vintage is a pure expression of the Elgin terroir and shows notes
of freshly crushed gooseberry, white blossom, elderflower and red grapefruit
on the nose, while the palate supports the aromas with fresh grapefruit and
subtle hints of nectarine and tropical fruits. A mouth-watering, rounded acidity
accompanies a full and long finish on the palate.
VINEYARDS
Grapes come from two vineyard blocks in the Elgin area lying at 540 meters
above sea level. The one block is planted in an east-west row direction and
the other in a north-south direction. Soils are derived from broken sandstone
and has a high clay content, which is needed for great water retention. Because
of this great water holding capacity, the vineyards can be dryland farmed. Vines
benefit from the cooling sea breezes from the Cape South Coast.
WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES
The grapes were harvested in two stages. The one block was picked at 22.5°
Balling and the other at 23.8° Balling to get different flavour spectrums. Both
were picked by hand in the early mornings, crushed, destemmed under a CO2
blanket and skins left to cold macerate in tank for 16 hours to extract the
flavour precursors. Tank was then emptied into press and the free run and
light press juice was separated from the rest. The wine was fermented in
stainless steel tanks, where the fermentation temperature was kept at around
12°C for 3 weeks. After 3 months on the fermentation lees, the wine was
racked and sulphured. Bottling took place early spring 2022.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The 2022 growing season will be remembered by how late everything happened.
Bud break was between 2 and 3 weeks later than the norm, which then in
effect led to the harvest to also start 2 weeks later. A relative cool and dry
growing season followed some late winter rains, which led to producing elegant
wines with great phenolic maturity.
FOOD PAIRING
Lightly seasoned white fish
Sushi
Vietnamese style foods
Gouda Cheese
