Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc

Grilled salmon with Thai noodle salad.

This wonderful Sauvignon Blanc comprises two blocks situated high on the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, one planed in 2003 and the other in 1985. Multiple pickings resulting in three different components ultimately making up the final blend, all to add extra complexity, aromatics, and texture.

Each component was picked early in the morning and crushed to stainless steel for skin contact ranging from 8-14 hours before a gentle pressing. Cold fermentation in stainless steel with aromatic yeasts and aged on the lees before blending and stabilisation.

Warwick Estate lies in a valley enclosed by the Simonsberg Kanonkop and Klapmutskop. Originally part of a vast piece of land known as Good Success this eighteenth century farm belonged to Colonel Alexander Gordon who renamed his portion in honour of the Warwickshire regiment which he commanded during the Boer War. Years later in 1964 Stan Ratcliffe bought Warwick where with considerable foresight he began planting the precious Cabernet Sauvignon vines which are still a major part of the production today. These vines produced high quality grapes and became highly sought after by wholesalers and other wineries. However it took the arrival of Norma Ratcliffe Stan's beautiful and energetic wife in 1971 for the family to begin making a few experimental wines from Cabernet Sauvignon. The early results were very encouraging and served to extol the virtues of what is surely some of the best terroir in South Africa. Michael Ratcliffe Norma's son has now taken over as proprietor in Stan's retirement and has wasted no time in stamping his personality on the Estate. A host of new innovative techniques learnt during his postgraduate wine studies in Australia are being implemented aimed at maximizing the potential of the Warwick terroir. Under Michael's leadership the Warwick team is striving to take the next step in quality.