Downes Family Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Elgin Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

The Downes Family are consummate producers of Sauvignon Blanc as the Downes Family Vineyards 2021 Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc will attest. Built along the lines of chateau-bottled white Bordeaux, it is a 90/10 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon that is fermented with wild yeasts and aged three months in new French oak. It also emanates from no less than seven different blocks of Sauvignon Blanc planted on soils rich in mineral quartz crystals, which add a pleasant minerality. The result is a bright, fresh wine that offers a cornucopia of subtly complex flavors that complement the wine’s pungent fruit and herbal tones. Citrus, melon and deft touches of capsicum and thyme make their appearance, too. Crunchy acidity pokes its way through the wine’s multitude of flavors, assuring a long, satisfying finish. Enjoy the 2021 Downes Family Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc moderately chilled (40°-45° F) now and often, with or without food: either way you are in for a treat as this is not an ordinary Sauvignon Blanc. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2025. Enjoy!

While it may be true that the success of food and wine pairings ultimately depends upon a multitude of factors, not the least of which is one’s personal palate preferences, it shouldn’t be difficult to find superlative accompaniments to pair with the 2021 Downes Family Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc. Fine Sauvignon Blanc such as the 2021 Sanctuary Peak pairs beautifully with shellfish and nearly anything else that once swam in the sea. South African lobster tails or whole steamed lobsters served with drawn butter merit our unabashed endorsement with this wine. A well prepared ceviche fills the bill, too, as do fresh-shucked oysters topped with a mixture of Andouille sausage, bacon, crawfish, shrimp, onions, peppers, cheese, and a mildly spicy dressing. Asian stir fries such as Pad Thai and vegetarian dishes with a touch of curry provide equally satisfying complements to the 2021 Downes Family Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc. Mediterranean flatbreads with pear, apple, Brie, arugula, walnuts, olive oil, and balsamic reduction also make delicious accompaniments. And, there is no better wine to accompany all types of cheeses, including Brie, Camembert, and other bloomy rind cheeses, than a traditional Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend such as the 2021 Downes Family Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc. Bon Appétit!

Finding exceptional wines that offer great flavor and incomparable value requires much more than just tasting more wines or even more of the same kind of wines. Actually, uncovering the oenological gems that lie hidden away in far flung places is akin to mining. Producers often make small quantities of wines they don’t sell commercially, unless you ask, beg, and sometimes even cajole. Consequently, there is usually a whole lot of sweat and toil before anything that vaguely resembles a jewel can be extracted from the earth. Yet, every now and then a wine, like a rare diamond or emerald, mysteriously finds its way to the surface to cross our path at a most opportune moment. Eureka! The Downes Family Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc is just such a find. In fact, Downes Family Vineyards and the lush Elgin Valley of South Africa constitute major discoveries.

Downes Family Vineyards is situated in the heart of the Elgin Valley, a verdant patch of South Africa’s Western Cape that has long been known for its cool climate, beautiful flowers, and splendid produce. Ringed by mountains, the Elgin Valley remains a tapestry of orchards, olive groves, and vineyards among green rolling hills. For nearly a century Elgin Valley has produced some of Africa’s most exceptional fruits, most notably apples and pears. These luxuriant green hills are also home to Downes Family Vineyards and a growing number of South Africa’s most talented winemakers. As a member of the Green Mountain Eco Route and a leader in the Biodiversity Wine Initiative, which maintains wide corridors of virgin soil and native Cape flora between the vineyards to allow indigenous animals territorial access, Downes Family Vineyards is fervently committed to conservation, sustainability, and social uplift. The Kogelberg Biosphere, South Africa’s first, borders Elgin Valley. It is a UNESCO protected region which contains hundreds of unique plant species found nowhere else on earth: all of which adds to the quality and uniqueness of wines from Downes Family Vineyards and South Africa’s luxuriant Elgin Valley.