Savage Salt River Sauvignon Blanc

Duncan Savage is one talented winemaker, and very much the king of Sauvignon Blanc in the Western Cape. The ex-surfer originally made his mark at Cape Point Vineyards, just south of Constantia, earning them serious accolades for their Sauvignon Blanc via the Platter's Wine Guide. Then in 2016, he started his own venture. His wines may be Savage by name, but they are anything but savage in character. Poise, purity and elegance are the bywords here. Duncan is sourcing the fruit from cooler sites on the Western Cape that allow the vines to be expressive without having overbearing alcohol.

Salt River Sauvignon Blanc combines fruit from an old bush-vine vineyard in Stellenbosch, and another coastal site in Walker Bay. It is fermented in a combination of stainless steel, concrete eggs, and old oak barrels. The wine then spends four months on the lees before bottling, and a further two months resting before release.

This is a vibrant and aromatic style of Sauvignon Blanc, with subtle notes of honeysuckle and blackcurrant leaf emerging among the more intense grapefruit pith. On the palate, there is a nice mix of citrus and yellow stone fruit, with a salty tang. So, so fresh!