2023 Savage, Salt River, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa

An important white grape in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley that has now found fame in New Zealand and now Chile. It thrives on the gravelly soils of Bordeaux and is blended with Sémillon to produce fresh, dry, crisp  Bordeaux Blancs, as well as more prestigious Cru Classé White Graves. It is also blended with Sémillon, though in lower proportions, to produce the great sweet wines of Sauternes. It performs well in the Loire Valley and particularly on the well-drained chalky soils found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, where it produces bone dry, highly aromatic, racy wines, with grassy and sometimes smoky, gunflint-like nuances.

After 11 years producing Platter five-star wines at Cape Point Vineyards, Duncan Savage finally realised his dream of producing his own red and white wine before the age of 35 with his maiden (2011 red, 2012 white) vintage. The wines received high critical acclaim (four and a half stars each from Platter) with Duncan once again in the spotlight as one of the most exciting young talents in South African winemaking. The wines are made with the blessing of Cape Point where he still works as winemaker and viticulturalist. Duncan’s aim is to produce elegant wines which reflect their terroir and he does this by using fruit from old vines with whole bunch fermentation, minimal intervention and use of old wood, and also amphorae for the Savage Red. Duncan says that the key is to “do as little as possible, as much as you can.” These are exciting new wines to watch on the South African scene, both of them capable of long ageing. Again, availability is limited.