Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Rustenberg, fact sheet (rustenberg.co.za – linket fra rustenberg.co.za, hentet 2026-10-18): 2023 Rustenberg Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc – område: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch; 100% Sauvignon Blanc; alkohol 13%. Producentens noter (engelsk): Introduction: Grown at some of the highest altitudes that vineyards are grown at in the Stellenbosch region; just over 550m above sea level, right against the Simonsberg Mountain. The cooling effect of altitude and the oceanic breeze blowing off False Bay and Table Bay, which are both within line of sight of the vineyards, combined with the vineyards being planted on South and West facing slopes make this ideal for the production of a full flavoured, more tropical style. This wine is made with the influence of oak, fermented and aged in barrel using the wild yeast present on the grapes at the time of harvesting and aged on lees for further palate weight and complexity to balance out the wines' natural acidity. Vintage: The 2023 vintage marked another vintage influenced by the La Niña weather phenomenon. The Autumn of 2022 was dry with below average and variable rainfall throughout the Winter. Spring too was dry, but cool, however, a massive cold front in December brought much needed rain, but increased disease pressure. This lead up to harvest set the scene for a challenging vintage and lower crop sizes. The early heatwaves experienced in January, as opposed to usually occurring in February, brought the white cultivars into line with their average picking dates and all of the white grapes were picked before the unseasonal rains experienced in late February and March. The cooler growing season and lower crops resulted in good acidity and concentration to the wines, while the warm lead up to harvest has given white wines from this vintage a burst of ripe fruit. All things considered, it was another good white wine vintage despite the challenging growing season.