Select another wine

Trizanne Signature Wines

2021

Sondagskloof

White   |   Sondagskloof - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Every now and then you come across a vineyard that sparks inspiration to do something completely different than what you’ve been ‘trained’ to do and have been comfortable making. This is exactly what happened during the particular mission when Trizanne came across the Sondagskloof Ward, close to Stanford. The viticulturist knew of Trizanne’s admiration and history with Sauvignon Blanc. He rang her to see if she was interested in the fruit and the immediate response was ‘why do I need another Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah?’ As the vineyard is on the way to Elim from her house, Trizanne popped by and was truly mesmerized by the site. It is biodynamically dry-farmed and in a very cool pocketed valley. Wanting to bring a different expression of the grape to the lineup, she decided to get a bit adventurous and make this wine as she would make a red wine.

The grapes were handpicked and half the lot was naturally skin fermented in an open top stainless steel tank with daily punch downs until it went dry (13 days) after which it was basket pressed and racked to a single new, ceramic fired, 500L French oak tonneau. The remaining 50% was whole bunched pressed and fermented with full solids in an older French cask. Both parcels were blended after six months in wood and racked back to barrel for a further 10 months of maturation. Bottling took place in Dec 2021 with a sheet filtration (no fining) and touch of sulfur at bottling.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
  • Vineyard: Single vineyard in Sondagskloof
  • Vine Age: 16-years-old
  • Soil Type: Quartz based soils with limestone
  • Viticulture: Sustainable
  • Fermentation: Native – 50% on skins in stainless steel (100% destemmed) and 50% whole-bunch pressed in French barrique
  • Skin Contact: 13 days (50% of the lot)
  • Aging: 18 months - 50% in a single 500L new French tonneau and the other 50% in old French barriques
  • Alcohol: 12.3%
  • pH: 3.11
  • Total Acidity: 7.5 g/L
  • Total SO2: 106 ppm
  • Total Production: 175 cases
  • UPC: 781718158305

Tasting Note

Combining skin and barrel-fermented components, with wild yeasts adding yet another dimension, this wine is showing incredible black current intensity, aromatic spices and passion fruit. The underlying minerality adds depth to this beautifully expressive Sauvignon Blanc.

Press & Reviews

Jancis Robinson

17.5

"100% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes for this wine some from a site ‘just past Sijnn’ that’s not yet in the Agulhas Wine Triangle. Made at Black Oystercatcher. Grapes bought in a long-standing arrangement. 50% skin ferment – 27 °C in an open fermenter, ambient-yeast ferment. After basket pressing it went straight to a new 500-litre Eclat barrel from Vinea. Toasted with ceramics, ‘like little irons – so no open fire’. The other 50% is whole-bunch pressed and straight to older barrels for fermentation. Ambient-yeast ferment.

Quite a floral nose, and absolutely no obvious wood element. So many phenolics are extracted from the skin ferment that the oak tannins bind with them. First vintage 2018 was a real experiment – brave! Spicy element as well as floral. No obvious skin-contact character. It completely surprised her. ‘I wouldn’t do this with Elim grapes, only with these with their strong blackcurrant flavour.’"

- Jancis Robinson
Select a wine

Producer


Trizanne Signature Wines

Region


Sondagskloof

Country


South Africa

Have a question or want to drop a line?

Contact Us