Cape Promise WINEMAKERS SELECTION Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape RSA

Aromatic grapey medium dry white. (12 x 75 cl)

'Speaking of South Africa, if you see a label that says 'Stormy Cape Cinsault-Shiraz' and a price tag of £7.99 you may, like me, say 'Oh, just another South Africa red blend' and pass on. Well you would be missing a real treat. Selected and blended by the winemaker at the now legendary Thelema winery, Stormy Cape red resembles, I reckon, the kind of old-fashioned red Burgundy that used to be fortified with Rhone or North African wines. It has a remarkably complex nose, very classy stuff in fact, coupled with terrific colour and smashing length. Touches of sous-bois and farmyard too. If ever there was a wine that tasted dearer than its price, this is it.' Tom Doorley (12 x 75 cl)

The wine is straw in colour, with rich and abundant fruit on the nose. An attractive leesy palate with ripe apricot lingers on a lively aftertaste. A harmonious wine with beautifully balanced acidity and wood. The fruit was hand-harvested from selected vineyard blocks and the Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel tanks, while the Chardonnay and Viognier were barrel-fermented and left on the lees for 8 months. Following blending, the wine was matured in French oak barrels for two months. (6 x 75 cl)

Aromatic Chenin Blanc with great fruity flavours through to the dry finish.

Les Grand Chais CAPE CREEK Chenin Blanc Western Cape RSA from South Africa, Western Cape by Les Grand Chais de France (12 x 75 cl)

This wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc and a little Semillon and is a pale green colour with a nose that jumps out of the glass. It is showing gooseberries, fig, tinned peas, black truffle, elderflower, some ripe fruits, cut grass, green pepper while the wine is full, intensely flavoured and very long on after taste. The Vergelegen vineyards are located on south or south-west facing slopes and this Sauvignon blanc is selected from both Vergelegen’s own vineyards in Somerset West and selected vineyards on the West Coast near the town of Koekenaap, approximately 400 km from Vergelegen. The grapes are picked when the desired flavours are showing at optimum. No skin contact is employed as they believe this technique leads to coarse wines. The juice is settled for 72 hours at low temperatures before inoculation with the desired yeast strain for Sauvignon grapes. To avoid conformity with other SA producers, they ferment at higher temperatures. This leads to fuller, bigger and more intensely-flavoured wines. Vergelegen, meaning 'situated far away', was granted to the Governor of the Cape in 1700 and the property has had a long and fascinating history since that time. Original owner Willem Adriaan Van der Stel, was a man of divergent interests who transformed the uncultivated land into a veritable paradise. He planted vines, camphor trees and oaks, laid out fruit orchards and orange groves, and introduced cattle and sheep, while today it is owned by Angolo America Farms. (12 x 75 cl)

Complex green grassy nose with passion fruit, guava and pear aromas. Gooseberry, green pepper and tropical fruit flavours on a full, rich palate with a long sweet-fruited finish. The word 'Indaba' has many meanings in the South African context, but its original translation is derived from a joining together to discuss issues of importance. Tribal chiefs in South Africa would call their people together to discuss any issues that might affect the village or surrounding area, and an ‘Indaba’ would be held. (12 x 75 cl)

Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape RSA from South Africa, Western Cape by Two Oceans (12 x 75 cl)

A typical Sauvignon blanc with all the characteristics of the cultivar: grass, green peppers, fig leaves, dusty roads and crushed citrus leaves. The vineyard location and cool growing conditions allowed Steller Organics to ripen the Sauvignon without losing these important style markers. The ripeness adds a touch of tropical fruit, firms the mouth feel and lengthens the palate. This wine exhibits a refreshing tartness and a strong Sauvignon flavour. (12 x 75 cl)