Best Unwooded Sauvignon Blanc according to Platter's South African Wine Guide

Steenberg The Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship of Steenberg Wine Farm. The wine was voted Unwooded Sauvignon Blanc of the Year by Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide. It is the only wine in this category to receive five stars. The Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc is a pure expression of the Steenberg terroir, displaying notes of nettle, flint, and elderflower on the nose, while on the palate, the aromas join with fresh lime peel and subtle hints of stone fruit and asparagus. A delightful acidity accompanies a full and long finish.

Sauvignon Blanc that can age for a long time

Prolonged contact with the lees in the tank provides some creaminess. Nevertheless, we are talking about a truly crisp wine here. This is a delicious food wine that can age for a long time—even 10–20 years! Patience is rewarded. The Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc pairs excellently with pasta primavera. Naturally, with sushi and sashimi too. He likes to have a grilled fish nearby.

Not acting rashly... at Steenberg

The first farm in the Cape, established in 1682, has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Quite recently, Steenberg underwent extensive soil and microclimatic analyses before a full replanting program was initiated. There are 59.5 hectares of vines, 70% of which are white: Sauvignon Blanc (64% of the total plantings) and Semillon. The red varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec. The farm is also one of the few in the Cape to have invested in the red Italian variety Nebbiolo. We at wijnen.nl are certainly curious about the latter as well…

From the initial 2,000 casks, Steenberg Vineyards now produces more than 40,000 casks per year.

Steenberg has everything well organized!

A beautiful macroclimate: mild temperature, cool breeze from the sea, reliable winter rain, good exposure to sunlight. At a more specific Meso level… southeastern slopes, different altitudes ranging from 60 m to 160 m, proximity to the ocean. And finally Micro-wise: moderate plant growth, canopy management, soil ranging from low vigor to species with high potential. Ideal terroir: Lean soils of weathered granite that help retain water and contribute to the distinctive minerality of our wines. Excellent conditions for the excellent wine Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc is
The philosophy is that the “wines are grown in the vineyard and subsequently cared for in the winery”.

Platter’s South African wine guide gives Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 5 stars.

South Africa’s best Sauvignon Blanc in the 39th edition of the definitive wine guide of South Africa. This is the culmination of nearly 30 years of dedicated focus on this variety to create terroir-specific wines that express a unique sense of place. The Black Swan 2017 is a blend of the two best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards at the Steenberg wine farm and is an expression of the vintage’s finest fruit. The hallmark of this fresh yet full-bodied wine is the crisp acidity that enlivens the unctuous palate through prolonged contact with the lees with refined calm. Expect lime peel, lemongrass, white grapefruit, and nettle bursting from the glass. These characteristics carry through on the palate, where they interact with hints of white peach, spicy green peppercorns, tart granadilla, candied lemon, and fresh fig leaves.