Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc was one of the vanguards of the South African industry in the early 1990s; it was memorably described by Jancis Robinson as ‘the Cloudy Bay of South Africa’. The playing field has evolved significantly since then, and in order to remain distinctive, Mulderbosch began ageing their Sauvignon Blanc in neutral 500-litre barrels from the 2016 vintage.
This 2020 vintage is unmistakably Sauvignon in character, with striking citrus aromas and a hint of herbal lemon-grass on the nose. Green fig flavours on the palate are lifted by natural acidity and balanced by a firm, chalky texture.
The grapes come from Mulderbosh’s estate vineyard and from the slopes of Simonsberg, the Polkadraai ward and vineyards close to False Bay on the lower slopes of the Helderberg. Some of the vineyards are within two and a half miles of False Bay, where the strong influence of the Atlantic Ocean has a cooling effect during the warmest months of the year, encouraging balancing acidity to the concentrated fruit produced in this warm region.