Savage 2023 “Salt River” Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa

In 2019 Duncan Savage happened to stumble upon a 32 year old block of bush vine Sauvignon Blanc in Stellenbosch. The elevation, wind and vine age all pointed in the right direction and after a bit of experimentation, Salt River Sauvignon Blanc was born. The winemaking team fell in love with the wine and vineyard and decided to create a brand and style separate from the rest of the Savage Range. Salt River is in the heart of the city of Cape Town, reminiscent of Shoreditch in London a few years back. It also happens to be the home of Savage Wines. The Sauvignon Blanc fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs and old barrels. The wine spends four months in these vessels before being bottled, followed by a further two months in bottle prior to release. The wine has flavors of orange blossom and grapefruit with lovely mineral tension and a fresh saline finish.