Soaring to the Top at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 with De Grendel
De Grendel has once again proven that they are a consistent producer of quality wine with their latest achievement at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition for their De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2017. The awards ceremony was held at the spectacular Landtscap venue in Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.
FNB Business is the proud sponsor of the Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition, which awards outstanding winemakers for their ingenuity and skill in making exceptional Sauvignon Blanc wines. Held under the auspices of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG), the competition is independently audited to ensure that the finest wines receive the recognition they deserve.
“We are extremely proud of this outstanding award for our De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2017,” says Sir De Villiers Graaff, Managing Director at De Grendel Wines. “Receiving this top award at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition is the ultimate seal of approval, proving our wine is truly of exceptional quality. I’m sure that all our Koetshuis fans are as happy as we are about this award.”
The De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2017 is made from a selection of high quality vineyards in Darling and Lutzville. Meticulous vineyard maintenance ensures superior fruit concentration and bolder flavours. Roughly 18% of the juice was inoculated and fermented in a combination of new and 2nd fill French oak barrels, where it was kept on the full lees for 100 days resulting in a rich wine with hints of minerality, gooseberries and green pepper on the nose and palate. The wooded portion of the wine was then blended back with the tank portion of 82%.
Complex, concentrated and bold – this wine will benefit from both food and aging. It is the perfect wine for summer and a pairing partner with zesty citrus sauced white fish, tart goats’ cheese, and fresh green salads.
It’s proven to be a great vintage for the De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2017 which also received a double gold medal at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2018, a gold medal from the Veritas Awards 2018, Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2018 as well as the China Wine & Spirits Awards 2017 and 91 points in the Tim Atkin SA Report 2017.
According to De Grendel’s wine maker, Charles Hopkins, these results make the De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2017 the most consistent performing Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa in 2018. “Our Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc receives longer skin contact than normal resulting in a Sauvignon Blanc that’s fuller and richer in style. The wine is also extremely complementary to food and always a good pairing with my favorite seafood recipe on the braai.”