Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc, Cape South Coast, 2020

Name: Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc, Cape South Coast
Brand: Lismore Estate
Price: 25.66 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2020

justerini & brooks tasting note

The 2020 Barrel Fermented Sauvignon was produced from 30% Lismore fruit, the rest from donated grapes from Stellenbosch (Heldeberg) and Elgin. The wine is approached and made in an “oxidative" style. Older 600 litre barrels were used for the fermentation and maturation, bringing forward richness, intense fruit and complexity. 15% of the production was fermented in 600L concrete eggs. extended less contact contribute further to the rounder mouth feel and creaminess of this elegantly textured wine. The 2020 has a freshly, cooling herb and citrussy varietal character that is kept perfectly in check. Though it is drinking beautifully now, its concentration suggests it will also improve for a few more years.

critic reviews

90/100Anthony Mueller,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Fresh, clean and herbaceous with a citrus-driven nose, the 2020 Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc is ripe with subtle oak spices. Medium-bodied in the mouth, flavors of candied lime and lemon drop sway with notions of pineapple and peach before soft green herbs make their mark. The wine concludes with a tight, ripe and food-friendly finish with a lingering notion of cardamom madeleines.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2029

date of review 06/2022

92/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Fermented was from donated Stellenbosch, Helderberg, Elgin fruit and a little from Greyton (thus WO Western Cape). This was made in a similar style, oxidatively in barrels, at Almenkerk but obviously has a very different terroir expression than the usual Cape South Coast fruit. The fresh, saline, sea-spray-scented bouquet gradually unfurls with aeration in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a grassy, white asparagus and ginger-tinged opening, crisp acidity and a racy but composed finish where you would be hard pressed to detect the barrel ferment, it is so discreet. Superb.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2032

date of review 11/2021