FRYER'S COVE Bamboes Bay Sauvignon blanc 2022

Fryers Cove once seemed an improbable dream – to plant vines on a remote stretch of land just 500 m from the Atlantic Ocean at Bamboes Bay on the rugged Cape West Coast. Yet local farmer Jan van Zyl and his father, Jan Ponk, set out on this great adventure more than 30 years ago. The cellar is in an old crayfish factory which has a jetty over the ocean. Icy seawater is pumped into the cellar and through the tanks to cool the wine during fermentation. From this mindset of ingenuity and minimalism flows authentic wines that are forged of the earth, tempered by the sea.

Welcome to Fryer's Cove

The Bamboes Bay Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are planted on Hutton-type soil, layered with limestone which extends deep into the earth. They form part of Fryers Cove's coveted 6-hectare planting at Bamboes Bay, the country's smallest demarcated wine ward.

The 2021 harvest was one of those standout years for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes, a vintage to savour. It was marked by cool days with the ever-present sea mist rolling in from the cold Atlantic Ocean, wrapping our vineyards in a protective cloak. This led to optimal long and even ripening, with harvest starting 2 weeks later than normal. The final ripening was quick and the healthy, flavourful grapes were picked at perfect sugar levels over a period of one week.

The winemaking process at Fryers Cove is, in true West Coast style, very straight forward with minimal intervention used as a basis. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are firstly destemmed and then pressed, with only the finest free-run juice used for the Bamboes Bay range. Settling occurs overnight with a small amount of settling enzyme added. The juice is racked the next day and inoculated with yeast, whereafter it ferments for approximately a week. After fermentation, the wine is left to age on its lees to further broaden the mouthfeel.

The winemaking process at Fryers Cove is, in true West Coast style, very straight forward with minimal intervention used as a basis. On the nose this wine is a vibrant mix of clean herbaceous and tangy passion fruit aromas, with briny wisps of seaweed in the background. The palate shows a combination of citrus, white peach and lemongrass with a saline minerality. The coated acidity is well balanced with all the intense flavours and gives the wine a rich mouthfeel.