Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A refined sauvignon blanc with volume and energy. Apples, baking spices, white flowers and almonds. Medium to full body with texture and verve. Suave and ample with control and balance all along. Harmonious with a precise, long finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Fresh and zesty, showing breadth and depth with citrus and spiced apple tones, the 2022 Clara Sauvignon Blanc is focused, complex and bright. Medium to full-bodied, the Sauvignon Blanc displays fantastic weight, with a round and spicy mouthfeel. Flavors of Marcona almond with nuances of dusty florals and Meyer lemon sway with a delightful mineral tension. Made from only free-run juice, the Sauvignon Blanc is naturally fermented in neutral oak before resting for nine months in a combination of old French and acacia barrels. Nicely done!
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Wine Spectator
Fragrant lime blossom and spice hints lace flavors of tangerine glacee and poached pear, with a rich touch of graham cracker. Medium-bodied, supple and well-knit, offering bright acidity and mineral accents on the finish. Drink now. 1,200 cases imported.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
One of the most famous and celebrated wine regions imported throughout Europe during the 18th century, Constantia was founded in 1685 by a Dutch governor named Simon van der Stel who ran a successful wine farm for many years.
Constantia vineyards, planted in ancient soil beds, climb up the east-facing slopes of the Constantiaberg, where the vines receive cool sea breezes blowing in from False Bay.