The wine is made from a combination of grapes from the cooler West Coast region and the Sauvignon Blanc from Eikendal's own prized vineyards, and the blending of the fruit of these two diverse terroirs – both well suited to Sauvignon Blanc – has imparted a revitalising spectrum of flavours and ripeness to the wine. They range from the green and grassy nuances to the luscious, more voluptuous floral tastes that dominated its former vintages.
"The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, creating cooler pockets in the vineyards near Vredendal, ensures slower ripening, resulting a natural acidity balance and terrific green flavours in the berries. The introduction of the typical coastal, minerality and a flinty character, literally elevated the wine to greener pastures!" explained Eikendal winemaker Henry Kotzé.
Kotzé allowed carte blanche in the vineyards, leaving it up to the grapes to determine the style of the Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 and he said gleefully that in the end only minor fine-tuning was needed in the cellar.
"The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness and handled with extreme caution at low temperatures to harness their natural flavours," he said.
Flaunting exceptional fruit layers and lower sugars than in previous years, the new wine is the perfect sip for the sunny season. It is a lively and tangy dry white, with the sun-kissed flavours of ripe gooseberry, fig and papaya perked up with slivers of lemon grass and green pepper on the palate, lingering with a good, firm finish.
Whilst the temptation to crack the screw cap straight away is hard to resist, the wine should be okay for another two years.
Enjoy it slightly chilled on its own or tantalise the taste buds and serve it with exotic seafood, poultry and pasta dishes.
Eikendal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is available from R40 per bottle, directly from the cellar or at leading supermarkets and wine outlets nationwide.
For more information, contact Eikendal at Tel: (+27)21 855 1422 or email .
