This is the maiden vintage of the Saboteur White Blend to partner the successful Saboteur Red Blend. New packaging. New closure. New wine.
2015 was an even ripening, balanced vintage producing good natural acidity. We set out to make a white blend that was both serious and refreshing. Most of the components were fermented and matured in barrel. The main building block of the blend, the Chenin Blanc, was naturally fermented on skins. All the wine spent 8 months in old French Oak. The final blend is a 68% Chenin Blanc, 15% Viognier, 15% Blanc Fumé and 2% Chardonnay.
Grapes were sourced from four vineyard sites:
Bot River, Luddite Chenin Blanc harvested on 16th February 2015
Elgin, Oneiric Chardonnay harvested on 17th February 2015
Elgin, Oneiric Blanc Fumé harvested on 18th February 2015
Elgin, Elgin Orchards Viognier harvested on 5th March 2015
Average analysis of fruit at harvest
19.5° Balling, TA – 6.9 g/l, pH – 3.2
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden straw, with slight green tinge.
Nose: Broad, hints of white peach, green melon, cinnamon, spice and leesy notes from the barrel fermentation.
Palate: Fresh entry, white fruit, broad pallet of juicy fruit, apricots and green gage plums. This all finishes off with balance citrus and lime. A great natural acidity will allow this wine to age gracefully.
Analysis of the wine
Alcohol: 12.86% pH: 3.4 TA: 5.9 g/l RS: 3.0 g/l