Allée Bleue Sauvignon Blanc 2023

The Allée Bleue Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is one of my best finds for the year. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Darling area in the West Coast, an area that has proven itself to be one of the best for Sauvignon Blanc. 25% of the wine underwent fermentation in older 400-litre barrels, aged on the lees for 2 months with and additional 3 months of lees ageing after racking. This process, together with a 12% Sémillon addition, contributes to a slightly more complex but still elegant wine.

In the glass, it has a pale-yellow colour. It is forthcoming on the nose with notes of citrus, tropical fruit and bell pepper. It delivers well on the palate with a zesty, yet very elegant entry that balances across the entire palate with a silky mouthfeel. The tropical fruit delivers well, with some pink grapefruit, passionfruit, dried pineapple and white peach. The lemon curd is in the background, providing the acidity to keep the wine together. It has a great sea spray finish with a saline minerality.

The best part of this wine is that I tasted it chilled well and – with the hot South African weather – shortly after it started to warm up to room temperature, and it remained moreish with a great balance and fruit expression. This is something that is scarce to find in a Sauvignon Blanc. It is a great wine to enjoy on its own or with food, such as oysters, scallops, seafood, chicken salad or a mushroom tart. It can be enjoyed now or within the next 7-10 years – I anticipate this wine to develop well over time, retaining a good acidity. It is true value for money and a must-try!

Producer: Allée Bleue

Variety: 88% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Sémillon

Vintage: 2023

Origin: Darling, Western Cape, South Africa

Winemakers: Van Zyl du Toit & Armand Hartzer

Closure: Screwcap

Alcohol: 13%

RS: 3.5g/l

Average price: R130

Rating: 96/100