Rustenberg Wines Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Rustenberg Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Area: Stellenbosch

Abv: 13.5%

AWARDS: DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS SILVER, 91 POINTS TIM ATKIN

Rustenberg is globally recognised as one of the top 5 wineries in South Africa. This farm was started in 1941 on the slopes of the iconic Simonsberg. The tasting room is one of the grander with a long curving staircase leading downstairs into a beautiful cool wood-lined tasting room which gives you a clear indication of the standard of the wines produced. 

This Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc is grown at some of the highest latitudes in Stellenbosch, up to 550m. It is a small batch wine, so reasonably rare. To me, this is an Old World Sauvignon Blanc where the grapes are handpicked, destemmed and then fermented in French oak barrels. After fermentation the wine is aged on its lees for 6 months in new, 2nd, and 3rd fill barrels. 

When drinking this wine expect those well-recognised Sauvignon Blanc characteristics like melon, peach and gooseberry to be slightly more rounded and rick giving hints of pineapple and passion fruit.