Excelsior Robertson Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Excelsior Robertson Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Robertson, Breede River Valley, South Africa

Vintage: 2025

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13.5%

This wine is pale yellow in colour, with youthful hints. On the nose, there are concentrated aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, fig and some fresh herb characteristics. The palate is full of tropical fruit, with bright and zesty acidity.

For years the Excelsior land was grazed by thoroughbred horses, the limestone rich soils thought to provide them with a source of calcium through the vegetation they consumed. This limestone content has proven to be beneficial for grape growing; the grapes grown here display greater spice notes in reds and fresher acidity in whites, than is typical in the Robertson region. The Sauvignon Blanc comes from three different vineyards. The early picked component is from low altitude alluvial soils, producing herbal wines with high acidity. The second component is from high altitude vineyards, 400 metres above sea level on decomposed sandstone. This wine has a mineral and green apple character. The last component comes from limestone, clay rich soils which add ripe tropical characters and body to the wine.

Grapes were harvested by hand during the coolest part of the day for greater quality control. Skin contact was maintained for three hours, after which the grapes were carefully pressed in order to avoid any bitter phenolics. The wine was then cold fermented for three weeks at temperatures of12-15°C. The wine was then matured on the lees for two months prior to bottling.

The De Wet family has owned Excelsior Estate, in the Western Cape town of Robertson, since 1859. Though the estate has had various incarnations, including ostrich farming and racehorse rearing, it has always been used for vine growing. Freddie De Wet and his sons Peter and Jacques now run the 220-hectare estate focused on the ‘big five’ varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Robertson is located 100 kilometres east of Cape Town, where, although the climate is hotter, it is moderated by sea breezes and the Breede River. The diurnal temperature differences allow for slow ripening and retention of the primary fruit aromatics and bright acidity.