THE WINES OF KEVIN GRANT - Sauvignon Blanc 2020 - Ataraxia - South-Africa

THE WINES OF KEVIN GRANT - Sauvignon Blanc - Ataraxia (Heaven and Earth Valley) - South Africa - 2020

Ataraxia: a short distance from the coastal town of Hermanus lies the Heaven and Earth Valley and the claim is justified. The Ataraxia estate sits on an extraordinary heavenly piece of land below a tower-high mountain peak of the Babylon Tower. Besides its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

The vineyards, with their proximity to the South Atlantic Ocean, elevated plantings and predominantly south-facing (cool) slopes create the ideal for growing cooler and climate-friendly grapes.

Ataraxia is Greek for "a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation" - a state of mind that winemaker Kevin Grant and his wife Hanli hope guests enjoy while visiting the estate or enjoying their wines.

Four wines make up Ataraxia's range: an unoaked Sauvignon Blanc, a wood-aged Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a red blend called Serenity (consisting of Pinotage and Pinot Noir).

Winemaker’s Notes

Each vintage we are dealt a different climatic hand, one of the reasons why every new season is so eagerly anticipated on Ataraxia. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes for Harvest 2019 were picked on the 18th February, slightly earlier than the previous vintage. A more moderate growing season than the previous three, drought-stricken vintages, timeous bouts of rain ensured an easy, stress-free final month leading up to harvest. Small berries in turn ensured concentrated fruit which has produced a wine with substantially concentrated and satisfying aromas and flavours.

Hand-picked and triaged in the vineyard, all our fruit was safely in the cellar by mid-morning, guaranteeing that the exciting fruit flavours of the grape were preserved and are now reflected in this wine.

Wine Style

Painstaking fruit selection and skilled winemaking using reductive cellar techniques has resulted in our Sauvignon Blanc seamlessly incorporating the very best that the Old and New World styles have to offer. This wine favours individuality and minerality ahead of pure, pungent fruit, but still shows alluring white stone fruit, citrus and lemon grass aromas. These are effortlessly reflected on the palate and are complemented by a lively acidity which underpins a classy structure and succulent texture. A wine of substantial poise, length and charm.

Alcohol = 13.89 vol % Res Sugar = 2.0 g/l Total Acidity = 7.3g/l pH = 3.04 

Cases: 2146 x 12 Bottled: September 2020 Release Date: February 2021