Among the great wines that your ABC Wine Team found during a recent trip to South Africa was the  Downes Family Vineyard ‘Sanctuary Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc 2011–a wine with both good complexity and a charming elegance.

The Downes Family Vineyards is located in the beautiful, lush Elgin Valley about 45 minutes’ drive-time from Cape Town. Traditionally this was the apple and pear center of South Africa, but more recently it has become home to some of the country’s most highly regarded winemakers specializing in cool climate grapes. The Downes Family Vineyards, it should be noted, is known in the rest of the world as Shannon Vineyards but a conflict in name with an American winery made the label change necessary in this country. No matter. Both names are true family names and pay homage to their Irish ancestry. The Shannon and Downes families come originally from County Cork.

We had the pleasure of visiting the winery and the vineyards last September and were given a very friendly welcome from the two Downes brothers who oversee the estate: James (who is in charge of vineyard management) and Stuart (who is in charge of marketing). All of the wines we tasted were spectacular, and we chose their distinctive Sauvignon Blanc as the first wine for all our ABC wine lovers to try and fall in love with.

The focus here is on viticulture, following the principles of minimal intervention and winemaking as an expression of terroir. The clay/shale soils provide flavors on the riper side of the fruit spectrum and give the wine structure. Abundant rainfall, high elevation and the prevailing cool summer wind known as “The Black South-Easter,” which blows in from the ocean about seven miles away, make conditions perfect for this distinctive wine. The Wine Advocate said that this vintage “is blended with 12% Semillon that is aged in new French oak for three months. It has a very light bouquet with a scent of dewy green apple and lime. The palate is lively on the entry with hints of orange peel and apricots, with a slice of lemon peel on the light, respectable finish. There are subtle white peach notes lacing the aftertaste of this very fine Sauvignon Blanc.” They awarded the wine 89 points.

The Downes Family wines use sustainable farming methods and have good aging potential. This is the Sauvignon Blanc that your taste buds have been begging for!

Cheers!

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills