And they are flying high. The Bellingham Homestead Series Sauvignon Blanc 2018 was placed in the National Top Ten in the 2018 Top Sauvignon Blancs Awards.
The Cape’s devastating drought played a dominant role in the 2018 harvest. “At the onset of harvest, people were expecting a below average vintage, however, going on what we are tasting and seeing in the cellar, vintage 2018 was an above average vintage,” says winemaker, Richard Duckitt “Our yields are down a little, but the quality is definitely not.”
One of the early registered as Wine of Origin Cape Town, the vineyards are planted granite and shale soils with excellent water holding capacity, ideal for dry farming. The climate offers high day time temperatures that are cooled off at night by the summer sea breezes from the cold Atlantic Ocean.
The grapes for the The Bellingham Homestead Series Sauvignon Blanc 2018 were picked by hand in in the early morning, taken to the cellar, destemmed and gently curshed and then cold fermented. There was extended contact with the gross lees and batonnage took place to add richness and mouthfeel to the palate. The wine was then prepared for bottling.
Pour
From a Burgundy shaped bottle, closed under screw cap. The label is elegant with an etching of the Bellingham Homestead and the signature of Bernard Podlashuk who restored Bellingham to good fortune in the 1940s and 50s. In the glass, it is pale straw in colour with lime green and gold flashes. The aromas are classical Sauvignon, ripe green melon, tropical sweet limes and lemon and are followed on entry by a vibrant shock of citrus and the wonderful tropical flavours of melon, papaya and grapefruit skin oil.
Pair
The perfect refresher mid-morning and as a sundown sipper. Loves the company of food, especially the summery salady dishes, smoked fish or chicken. Anina Meyer’s Mushroom, Cheddar & Corn Wraps add a bit of Mexican fun and works well with The Bellingham Homestead Series Sauvignon Blanc 2018. Click here for her recipe.
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