Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.31%
Residual Sugar 2.9 g/L
pH 3.3
Total Acidity 6.5 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc100%
Region Walker Bay
Soil Clay-rich shale derived soil 46%, Decomposed granite soil 28%, Table mountain sandstone derived soil 26%
Vineyard Yield 38.9 hL/ha
Sites Hemel-en-Aarde 48%, Walker Bay 52%
Production Volume 12 bottles
Bottles12
Production Details Barrel fermentation: 7% in neutral barrels. Release date: September 2025. Growing season: Good late winter cold units resulted in even, timely budding, additionally helped by a few warmer days at just the right time. Canopy growth was the best we have seen in 5 years and moderate yields were perfectly in balance with canopy size. In general, 2025 will be seen as one of the top South African vintages and Sauvignon blanc and Pinotage certainly benefitted from the benign conditions. Winter rainfall was higher than average, and rainfall from budbreak to veraison was lower than average, as was rainfall from ripening to harvest. Disease pressure was particularly mild compared to the previous 2 vintages. At 25.35 centigrade for the average maximum temperatures for the 4 "hottest" months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) building up to and during harvest, 2025 was a touch warmer than 2024 (25.05) and warmer than the particularly cool 2023 (24.18). Harvest finished quite early, almost entirely in the month of February, with a little Pinotage coming in on March 3rd. Our Pinotage had particularly small berries and thick skins, while our Sauvignon blanc acids were wonderfully high at harvest, with healthy low pH's. The wines produced have beautiful texture and electricity. Altogether a great vintage. Wine style: Made in a way ensuring the personality of site and soil is not over-ridden by the forceful character of the variety, this wine exhibits the typical Southern Right balance of tight "Old World" minerality and length with hints of "New World" texture and body. The 2025 is a wine that favours individuality, minerality and palate complexity ahead of simple, pungent varietal aroma. A significant percentage of fruit from iron and clay-rich soil (46%) has added a textural and structural component and additional overall complexity to this wine. Granitic soils (28%) have added openness and perfume, while sandstone soils (26%) have contributed their typical bright, tensile character and a marked, saline minerality. This is Sauvignon blanc as fine wine, not Sauvignon blanc as simply a varietal expression.
Individual Vintages
Producer Information
Website
Address
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, R320, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa
Phone
+27 (0)28 312 3595
Email
Owner
Anthony Hamilton Russell