Sauvignon Blanc - Rest of the New World (including Australia, South Africa & USA)
South Africa is by far the main player in the ‘Rest of…’ section of New World Sauvignon, seemingly able to master a variety of styles, from ‘fresh and zesty’ to ‘richer and more complex’, while still retaining a distinct South African-ness.
It’s not an easy trick to pull off, as other countries discovered – there were very few medal winners outside the Cape, and a bewildering array of styles.
Mind you, it’s hard not to have some sympathy for producers. Everyone has strong opinions on what ‘Sav’ should be, and there’s little agreement, as you’ll see from the comments below.
From The Tasting Teams
‘People have quite personal opinions about Sauvignon Blanc, but there were good wines from South Africa that showed a sense of place and the typicity of the grape.’ Jade Koch, team leader
‘For me, the best New World Sauvignons are rich, ripe wines – they’re not too acidic, not too green, and can pair with slightly heavier foods rather than just being served as a chilled aperitif.’ Tim Handley, Royal Automobile Club
‘There were dialled-down, lighter, fresher wines – those were the ones we put through for medals.’ Nigel Lister, St. Swithins Wine Shippers
‘I’ve always praised Sauvignon for its versatility, but what we saw in this flight was a lack of varietal expression. The number of wines here that were neutral was a bit of a shame.’ Joshua Castle, Noble Rot
‘If you’re going for Sauvignon Blanc, express the terroir, rather than just trying to be different or experimental. It’s not an experimental grape variety.’ Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant Mayfair
‘I noticed a couple of wines with a smoky character that is typical of South Africa, and my favourites had this quality, really showing typicity.’ Olivier Gasselin, OenoTrade