DOWNES FAMILY VINEYARDS “Sanctuary Peak” Sauvignon Blanc 2020

(Elgin Valley, Western Cape, South Africa) $26

The first grape variety that woke me up to the quality and appeal of South African wine was sauvignon blanc. Pure, minerally, racy, and sage-like, it was a bit like Sancerre but with more body. Add some stone fruitiness and smokiness and you’ve got Downes Family’s “Sanctuary Peak” a wine that’s as precise as a top riesling and not one bit green or vegetal. Close by the Atlantic Ocean, the Elgin Valley of the Western Cape is one of the coolest climate regions in South Africa and renowned for its apple and pear orchards, rose and flower farms, and most recently, its thriving wine industry. The Downes and Shannon families came to South Africa in 1899 from County Cork in Ireland. Sanctuary Peak is named for the peak of the mountain range just above the vineyards. (13% abv)

92 points KM

Available at Solano Cellars