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Sauvignon Blanc, Paul Cluver

Paul Cluver Wines
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Technical Analysis
Alcohol
13.5
Residual sugar
1.8
pH
3.13
Acidity
7.4
Download Specification Sheet Download Full Size Images
23% of the total plantings of Paul Cluver Wines are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, with vines ranging in age from 5 to 16 years.
Tasting note

This bright Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of a green hue shows an impressive range of aromas. A combination of passionfruit, blackcurrant and grapefruit on the nose, with hints of mineral notes. This expression follows through to the palate with passionfruit and gooseberry, supported by great salinity, complexity and length. The wine is fresh with elegant balanced acidity and a lingering finish. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Semillon.

Origin
South Africa
Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Malolactic Fermentation
No
Bottle Size
75cl
Vegetarian
Yes
Winemaker
Andries Burger
Closure
Screw top
Region
Elgin
Vegan
Yes

Vintage conditions

After a cold winter with higher-than-average rainfall, the area experienced great growing conditions. Spring and summer were cooler, with 190 hours < 10°C more than the previous vintage. The moderate daytime and cool night temperatures were ideal for the development of flavour and retention of high natural acidities. Harvest started on 16 February and finished on 18 March. Picking took place in the early hours of the morning, ensuring the grapes arrive at a cool temperature at the cellar for optimal freshness. Grapes were harvested at 21-23.5° Brix.

Vinification details

Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc is recognised for its elegance, balance and expression of terroir, and the 2021 is no exception. The winery aims to highlight the typicity of the estate, and also the vintage. Pressing is gentle and careful attention is dedicated to handling for the best quality. To ensure a more complex wine with a richer mid-palate,  10% Semillon is blended in, which was aged in 2500ℓ foudres and 500ℓ older oak barrels on the fine lees for five months.

 

Technical Analysis
Alcohol
13.5
Residual sugar
2.0
pH
3.18
Acidity
6.7
Download Specification Sheet Download Full Size Images
23% of the total plantings of Paul Cluver Wines are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, with vines ranging in age from 5 to 16 years.
Tasting note

The colour is clear and bright. The nose is fresh and clean with expressive flavour characteristics of tropical fruits. These flavours follow through onto the palate that also offers notes of grapefruit, gooseberries, and gives a lovely freshness which lingers after every sip. 90% Sauvignon Blanc.

Origin
South Africa
Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Malolactic Fermentation
No
Bottle Size
75cl
Vegetarian
Yes
Winemaker
Andries Burger
Closure
Screw top
Region
Elgin
Vegan
Yes

Vintage conditions

The growing season of the vines, prior and during to the 2020 harvest, consisted of moderate day temperatures and cool night temperatures which was ideal for the development of quality grapes. A good volume of rain fell in October 2019 and January 2020 which benefited the vineyards greatly. Harvesting of Cluver’s 2020 Sauvignon Blanc grapes started a week later compared to 2019, with the first grapes being harvested on 19th February and the last on 13th March. Picking of the grapes took place in the early hours of the morning, ensure the grapes arrive at a cool temperature at the cellar. Grapes were harvested between 20.7-24° Brix, with acidities between 7.2 and 8.5 g/l.

Vinification details

Paul Cluver’s aim when making Sauvignon Blanc, is for elegance, balance and an expression of terroir. There are no fixed rules or recipes that are followed as vintage conditions and the quality of the grapes dictate decisions made in the cellar. Dry ice is used abundantly and pressing is always gentle. Total time on fine lees was five months.

 

Technical Analysis
Alcohol
13.9
Residual sugar
2.0
pH
3.19
Acidity
6.8
Download Specification Sheet Download Full Size Images
23% of the total plantings of Paul Cluver Wines are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, with vines ranging in age from 5 to 16 years.
Tasting note

The colour is clear and bright. The nose is fresh and clean with characteristics of passion fruit and grapefruit that follow through onto the palate. 96.7% Sauvignon Blanc; 3.3% Semillon.

Origin
South Africa
Variety
Sauvignon Blanc
Malolactic Fermentation
No
Bottle Size
75cl
Vegetarian
Yes
Winemaker
Andries Burger
Closure
Screw top
Region
Elgin
Vegan
Yes

Vintage conditions

The weather conditions leading to the 2019 harvest were dry but not warm, with the usual diurnal difference due to the estate’s altitude, thus the evenings was cool and days moderate during harvest. Due to the dry summer, harvesting of Sauvignon Blanc grapes was early, starting on 7th February and receiving the last grapes on 1st March. Picking of the grapes took place in the early hours of the morning, starting at 3.00am to ensure the grapes were cool. Grapes came in at sugars of 21-23° Brix, with acidities between 6.5 and 8.6 g/l.

Vinification details

Cluver’s aim for their Sauvignon Blanc is elegance, balance and expression of terroir. Vintage conditions and the quality of the grapes dictate decisions made in the cellar – there are no fixed rules or recipes that are followed. Dry ice is used abundantly. Pressing is always gentle and free run juice only is fermented. Total time on fine lees was three months. The Semillon component was fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks, 3rd- and 4th-fill French oak barrels and a 2600L oak vat.

 

AWARDS

Platter: 4.5*
Tim Atkin MW: 91 pts
DWWA: Silver

Technical Analysis
Alcohol
13.5
Residual sugar
3.0
pH
3.27
Acidity
6.8
Download Specification Sheet Download Full Size Images
23% of the total plantings of Paul Cluver Wines are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, with vines ranging in age from 5 to 16 years.
Tasting note

The colour is clear and bright. The nose is fresh and clean with expressive flavour characteristics of passion fruit, grapefruit, gooseberry and blackcurrant. These flavours follow through onto the palate which has a lovely creamy, yet elegant, texture – the result of extended lees contact and the portion of Semillon. 92% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Semillon

Origin
South Africa
Variety
Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Malolactic Fermentation
No
Bottle Size
75cl
Vegetarian
No
Winemaker
Anné van Heerden
Fined Using
Isinglass
Closure
Screw top
Region
Elgin
Vegan
No

Vintage conditions

The weather conditions leading to the 2017 harvest were very dry but not warm, with the usual diurnal difference due to the estate’s altitude, thus the evenings was cool and days moderate during harvest. Due to the dry summer, harvesting was early, starting on 13th February and finishing 13th March. Picking of the grapes took place in the early hours of the morning, starting at 3.00am, to ensure the grapes were cool. Grapes came in at sugars of 21-23° Brix, with acidities between 6.4 and 8.9 g/l.

Vinification details

Cluver’s aim for their Sauvignon Blanc is elegance, balance and expression of terroir. Vintage conditions and the quality of the grapes dictate decisions made in the cellar – there are no fixed rules or recipes that are followed. Dry ice is used abundantly. Skin contact prior to fermentation is done to extract flavour and reduce acidity and pressing is always gentle. Only free run juice is fermented. Different yeast strains were tried out this year and the lees stirring regime increased adding richness to the mid-palate. Total time on fine lees was fivemonths. The Semillon component was fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks, 3rd- and 4th-fill French oak barrels and a 2600L oak vat.

 

AWARDS

IWC: Silver
DWWA: Silver