Silver Sands Robertson Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Hailing from the Robertson region of the Breede River Valley, the crystalline 2023 Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc brings its welcome from the moment it is poured. Selected from the best parcels planted on the slopes of nearby mountains and harvested in the early morning hours, the 2023 Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc offers an entrancing aroma of citrus blossoms, tropical fruit, and limestone, the latter imparting texture in the form of a gentle minerality. In the mouth, juicy tropical fruit flavors meld with touches of wild herbs and freshly mown spring grass. Precise and refreshing from a healthy endowment of racy acidity, the 2023 Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc exits with panache, eliciting a long and satisfying finish. Drink this spritely South African Sauvignon Blanc now and often over the next several years. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2026. Enjoy!

The 2023 Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc provides an especially superb companion to seafood, hors d’oeuvres, tapas, and warm sunny days. While it may be true that there is more to food and wine pairings than seafood and Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc makes a compelling case for the marriage between these two consenting partners. Almost anything that swims in the sea or creeps along its murky bottom will have an affinity for this South African beauty. South African lobster tails or whole steamed lobsters served with drawn butter merit serious consideration. Alaskan King Crab Legs offer another outstanding complement to this wine. Clams, mussels, and oysters provide great companionship, too. New Zealand Green Tip Mussels served in a creamy, aromatic broth remain a perennial favorite, and when paired with Silver Sands 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, a true match has been made. Herb crusted shrimp or prawns provide another tasty treat. And, a simple filet of cod or halibut, baked with white wine, garlic, herbs and mustard, is tasty, too. For more adventuresome gourmands, we suggest Spicy Chorizo Mussels served with garlic bread. For those who eschew seafood, never fear. Silver Sands Sauvignon Blanc shines in the company of highly charged chicken salads, curries, and a host of stir fries and vegetarian specialties. Enjoy!

Robertson Winery sprang to life in 1941 in an old chapel originally established by Scottish missionaries. Nestled between mountains in the Robertson Valley, the Roberston Winery draws life from the nearby Breede River and a vibrant close-knit farming community founded in 1852, which counts seven generations of winemakers and a wealth of viticultural experience. Silver Sands is Robertson’s special limited edition Sauvignon Blanc and this month’s feature.

Although Robertson Winery began operation in 1941, it wasn’t until 1984 that Robertson started bottling wine under its own label. Like many South African wineries, Robertson served as a source of wine for many of the nation’s top producers. With its acumen and experience, Robertson quickly assembled an incredible portfolio of South African wines, from high quality affordable varietals to robust hedonistic treasures that rival the best South Africa has to offer.

Robertson Winery first gained fame with a voluptuous bold Shiraz named Number One Constitution Road. The winery has since branched out to fashion a bevy of still and sparkling blends and varietals in addition to their compelling limited edition Sliver Sands Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauvignon Blanc is a premium white wine grape that for all intents and purposes is indigenous to Bordeaux. Yet, in Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc has traditionally been blended with a percentage of Semillon and other grapes to create a special flavor profile all of its own. This stands in contrast to the 100% varietal offerings from France’s Loire Valley, most notably from Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and increasingly Menetou-Salon, whose wines remain some of the world’s truest expressions of the grape. Other French appellations have mostly followed suit, preferring 100% varietal bottling so as not to diminish Sauvignon Blanc’s inimitable characteristics.

In the New World, winemakers mainly follow the Loire Valley’s lead in bottling Sauvignon Blanc as a single varietal. In California, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes called Fumé Blanc, a relic of a marketing ploy that popularized the grape but confused the consumer since there is no clear cut difference in California between wines labeled Sauvignon Blanc and Fumé Blanc. In the past three decades, Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa have proven to be equally adept at producing excellent Sauvignon Blancs with many of the finest emanating from South Africa. Although each country appears to have developed a unique variation on the same theme, what nearly always distinguishes Sauvignon Blanc is its distinct aroma, which resonates with citrus, herb, melon, and freshly cut grass scents that range from almost imperceptible to nearly intoxicating. And, unlike Chardonnay, which possesses an affinity for extensive oak barrel ageing, Sauvignon Blanc eschews oak. Instead, Sauvignon Blanc prefers to allow its bold distinctive aromas and flavors to stand on their own.