Vergelegen Estate White 2023
| Producer | Vergelegen |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Stellenbosch |
| Wine Type | White Wine |
| Body / Style | Aromatic |
| Grape Blend | Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Bottle Size (ml) | 750 |
| % Abv | 13.5 |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Special Features | Vegan |
| Extra Info | Flinty, complex, elegant |
| Food Pairing Guide | This complex, mineral white blend has the structure to go with richer seafood and white meat dishes. It’s superb with salmon en croûte, grilled lobster or crayfish, seared scallops or oysters. Its texture and herbal freshness suit a rich, creamy chicken dish, herb-crusted roast chicken or pork tenderloin with a cream and mustard sauce. It’s also lovely with a creamy risotto, especially with asparagus, wild mushrooms or lemon and herbs. For a lighter option, try grilled sea bass with salsa verde or a crab and fennel salad. It’s also excellent with soft and semi-hard cheeses such as Brie, Comté or a mature goat’s cheese. Serve it lightly chilled, around 12 to 14°C, rather than ice-cold, so its layers can show. |
Vergelegen Estate White is the flagship white wine of one of South Africa’s most historic and acclaimed estates, which Tim Atkin MW has named a First Growth of South Africa. This classic Bordeaux-style blend brings together two of the estate’s most prized vineyard sites. The Sauvignon Blanc grows at the very top of the windswept Schaapenberg, high above False Bay. The Semillon comes from the farm’s oldest vineyard blocks, rooted in shale and alluvial soils. Both are hand-picked and sorted, whole-bunch fermented, and then fermented in a mix of barrels and foudres to build depth and texture. This release has won a trophy at the International Wine Challenge and has been widely praised by critics.
In the glass it is bright and inviting, with intense aromatics and a flinty, mineral core. Bright lemon, crisp apple and crushed rosemary lead, with Semillon’s subtle richness adding weight and complexity. The palate is elegant and structured, with a fine balance of freshness and texture, and it ends in a long, polished finish. Serve it lightly chilled with salmon en croûte, lobster or creamy chicken, or cellar it to develop even more complexity.
