2021 Gabriëlskloof Sauvignon Blanc, Bot River, Walker Bay, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

The 2021 harvest stood out for consistent cooler weather throughout the growing and ripening period, leading to slower ripening and increased flavour development. The Sauvignon Blanc 2021 was fermented wild in stainless steel tanks and left on its lees for seven months before bottling.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Gabriëlskloof is the realization of a dream for South African Bernhard Heyns, who searched for several years to find the unique piece of land that, in his words, would “root him to the spot”. In 2001 he found what was then a canola farm named ‘Avontuur’ and the penny dropped. It was soon obvious that the site had the potential to make high-quality wines with a distinctive character, and so it has proved. Gabrielskloof has been owned and run by the Heyns family ever since. That family has since grown to include members of the local community, several of whom have risen through the ranks to senior positions at the farm. Engaging with and being a part of uplifting our local community is the driving force behind our employment approach and the farm has both been part of and initiated several local upliftment programs in the vicinity. The arrival of Peter-Allan Finlayson as cellar master in 2014 has ushered in a new and exciting era for the farm, notably with the Landscape Series and Projects Range, wines from which have routinely featured in critic’s choice awards in recent years.