Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
This has an elegant green character in notes of English pea and fresh green bean over pithy lemon-scented fruit. The finish is long and stony with a burst of underripe apricot flavor. The wine has a rich texture and a salinity that makes this a great match for a plateau de fruits de mer.
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Wine Enthusiast
Green plum, gooseberry, lime pith and fresh sweet grass all unfold on the nose of this varietally correct wine. Lightweight, fresh and vibrant, it boasts lime-like acidity and pleasantly tart, not mouthpuckering, green melon and plum flavors. Superfresh and vibrant, this is well balanced and easy to like.
Within this unique environment exists virgin land some 400-500m above sea level with a variety of soils, aspects and microclimates. The high, cool Elgin Mountain plateau, with its close proximity to the sea and protection by the mountins, is idealy situated for the production of premium varietal wines. this provides the ideal environment for slower ripening grapes of finess and delicacy that characterise Paul Cluver Wines.
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.
This high-elevation, cool-climate district, nestled into the ancient sandstone Hottentots Holland Mountains, traditionally was apple orchard land. Today Elgin is also a source of exceptional Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir.