NOBLE LATE HARVEST SAUVIGNON BLANC

Current Vintage 2005  
General
Whilst harvesting grapes for our Sauvignon blanc white wine, botrytis infected bunches were left on the vine to develop further. Due to the cool conditions in February and March, botrytis was able to develop slowly and evenly, thus allowing us until early April before harvesting.
 
Description
Burnished copper, amber appearance. Nose of preserved quamquats and dried tobacco. Palate is filled with flavours of Seville orange marmalade and a racy, blood-orange bitter twist on the finish.
 
Grape Variety Sauvignon Blanc  
Wine Record
Whole bunches were basket pressed and the juice immediately pumped to second fill French barriques for fermentation. After 6 months the wine was racked, sulphured and returned to barrel where it spent a further 5 months before fining and preparation for bottling.
 
Alcohol 14.02%  
Residual Sugar 86.3 g/l  
pH 3.73  
Total Acid 9.3 g/l  
Maturation
Drinking well now, but promises to develop in bottle over the next 5 - 10 years.
 
Honours 4 stars in John Platter's South African Wine Guide 2008