Paul Cluver, Sauvignon Blanc, 2023

Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc is clear and bright, with a hint of green. The nose is clean and fresh with expressive passionfruit, grapefruit, gooseberry and blackcurrant characteristics. These flavours follow through onto the palate which has a lovely fresh yet creamy texture - the result of extended lees contact and the higher Sémillon portion.

What the estate says

Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc is a fantastic example of cool climate South African Sauvignon Blanc, mixing the best of leaner, old world styles with a touch of the tropical fruit richness of new world wines.

The aim of Paul Cluver's Sauvignon Blanc is elegance, balance and expression of terroir. Vintage conditions and the quality of the grapes dictate decisions made in the cellar and there are no fixed rules or recipes that are followed. At harvest, dry ice is used abundantly to keep the temperature of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes low, preserving their aromatic notes. Once the grapes are crushed, a little skin contact is permitted prior to fermentation to extract flavour and to reduce acidity. Pressing is always gentle to prevent bitter characters tainting the wine. Some lees stirring takes place during fermentation, adding richness to the Sauvignon Blanc's mid-palate.

Different yeast strains were tried out this year and the lees stirring regime was increased, adding richness to the mid-palate. Total time on the lees was five months. The Sémillon component (10% of the blend) was fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks, 3rd and 4th fill French oak barrels and a 2600 litre oak vat.

Sauvignon Blanc can be a little brittle just by itself and although the Sauvignon produced by Paul Cluver isn't brittle, the addition of some (about 15%) Sémillon brings a whole new dimension to the wine. It has added depth of fruit and a lovely creamy texture on the palate yet it still has all of the freshness that Sauvignon Blanc delivers in spades.

• ❖ ABV: 13.65%