The palate is well balanced, crisp and linear, with fine delineation. Quite an elegant Sauvignon Blanc, it boasts a precise, sapid finish that urges you back for more. This is very well made and very delicious.

Named for the rare Southern Right whales that frequent Walker Bay in May and December, the winery contributes to their conservation. A delicate style, with subtle notes of flint, white flowers, and lemon sorbet. The vineyards are close to the Atlantic Ocean, and it shows in its salty, seashell tonality.

Sourced from 28 different vineyard blocks, this is a cut above most commercial Cape
Sauvignon Blancs. Wet stone and struck match aromas are a perfumed introduction to a
palate of passion fruit and lemongrass embellished by subtle oak spices and racy acidity.

Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t leap to mind as a South African specialty, but I have had many terrific, world class, or better, examples from the coast hugging appellations of Constantia, the eastern slopes of Stellenbosch, Elgin and Walker Bay. This favourite is from the lower Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in the Walker Bay area. It is produced by Hamilton-Russell, but sold as Southern Right (named for the local whale species) to differentiate from the Hamilton Russell focus on chardonnay and pinot noir. It is a quite firm, sturdy and complete sauvignon with lifted aromas of lemon/grapefruit citrus, fine nettle/evergreen, guava and dried flowers. It is medium bodied with more weight and density than many, making it appropriate as a serious dinner wine. It shows very good flavour intensity, weight and balance, with excellent length.

My “only one” this week is the 2024 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc. A blend of fruit from Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, and Elgin, it is a distinctively coastal expression of the variety that also reflects the relative warmth of the vintage (as compared to 2023). I was especially taken with how this wine feels in terms of texture – it is gently rounded and fleshy with waves of acidity and salinity washing over one’s palate. I also like its poised and graceful yet concentrated flavour profile, which includes an enchanting perfume of jasmine blossoms and perfectly ripe citrus and orchard fruit. Given it is priced at under $25, I would grab a half a dozen bottles of this wine for my cellar!