The grapes used to produce 2009 Fairview Sauvignon Blanc are harvested mainly from our cool vineyards at Darling, supplemented by grapes from a vineyard outside Malmesbury in the Swartland. By carefully blending the wine from these two areas our winemakers emphasize certain aspects of the terroir from each area to produce a balanced, food-friendly style of Sauvignon Blanc.
IN THE VINEYARD:
Sauvignon Blanc was harvested from two vineyard sites in the Darling and Swartland areas. The various parcels of fruit were picked at between 22.3° and 24.6° balling, over a period of 3 weeks. The Swartland vineyard is on shale soils and the Darling vineyards on deep red oakleaf soils. All the Darling fruit was machine harvested at night (from 23h00) and the grapes arrived at the cellar at 15 degrees celsius. All the vineyards are trellised; with the Darling and Swartland vineyards unirrigated.
HARVEST DATES:
Swartland: 5th February
Darling: 16th to 23rd of February
WINEMAKING:
The bunches were destalked, lightly crushed and pressed in a pneumatic press. Juice was settled and then fermented in stainless steel tanks at between 11° and 13° Celsius. After fermentation the wine was left on its fine lees prior to blending and bottling. The final blend comprises 70% Darling and 30% Swartland grapes.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:
The 2009 vintage was a good one for Sauvignon Blanc. After a good winter, there was no rain during the harvest which resulted in smaller grapes with deeper concentration of aroma and flavour. I think that the Swartland component’s rich fruit has added complexity, put the wine retains it cool-cimate freshness. Anthony de Jager
TASTING NOTE:
Pale straw colour. Punchy green fig aromas with a hint of flintiness on the nose. Capsicum flavours are balanced by riper fruit which comes through on the palate, creating fullness and leading to a well balanced finish.
WINE ANALYSIS:
Wine of Origin Coastal
Alcohol 13.49%
Residual sugar 2.2g/l
Total acid 7.5g/l
pH 3.31
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