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Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc

£17.23

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Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc is bottled early to capture all of the variety's vibrant flavours and aromatic fermentation esters. A great balance has been achieved between fruit maturity and acid harmony in the final crafting of this wine. Tropical flavours of gooseberry, lychee, green fig and herbaceousness lie over layers of creamy minerality. Although more tropical than grassy, it almost Loire-like in its elegance.

  • Country: South Africa
  • Region: Cape South Coast
  • Subregion: Walker Bay
  • Vintage: 2021
  • Colour: White
  • Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
  • ABV: 13%
  • Bottle Size: 75cl
  • Closure: Natural cork
  • Style: Bright and elegant
  • Drink With: Omelette aux fines herbes

Peter Finlayson is more famous for his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir than for his Sauvignon Blanc, despite the fact that this is his best selling wine! However, the soil and climate of Walker Bay are both ideally suited to Sauvignon Blanc and his policy of high density planting ensures greater physiological ripening at harvest.

About the grower

Walker Bay is between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, and the Bouchard Finlayson Estate lies in the Hemel-en-Aarde (literally the Heaven and Earth) Valley, framed by the Galpin Peak and the Tower of Babel mountains and within sight of the ocean. The cold Atlantic greatly influences the climate and, although frost-free thanks to the moisture and cloud cover blown in off the sea and trapped by the mountains, the area is one of the coolest wine growing areas in the Cape. After eleven years as winemaker at the nearby Hamilton Russell estate and building a reputation for the excellence of Walker Bay Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Peter Finlayson created Bouchard Finlayson in 1989. He now produces what is considered South Africa's finest Pinot Noir - the Tête De Cuvée Galpin Peak - together with a variety of excellent Chardonnays. In addition, Bouchard Finlayson has planted a number of Italian varieties that define the Hannibal cuvée, along with Sauvignon Blanc and some Riesling that contributes admirably to the Blanc De Mer blend.

Because of Hemel-en-Aarde's cool climate, the wines of Bouchard Finlayson are much more restrained in style than those from many other new world countries. Given Peter Finlayson's mastery of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, comparisons of his wines with those from Burgundy are inevitable and are far from detrimental. He firmly believes that great wines can only be made from the finest grapes, which he attains by limiting yields and by meticulously caring for his vineyards. Once at the winery, the grapes are handled as little as possible so as not to detract from their inherent quality. It's no surprise that Bouchard Finlayson makes some of South Africa's best wines.

The continued focus on biodiversity and conservation at Bouchard Finlayson means that only 22 of the 125 hectares of the estate is under vine amidst the unique native fynbos flora which flourishes unhindered in this delightful region.