SO CONSISTENT! None of South Africa’s other great white blends have been as highly rated for as long. With their Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blanc Semillon combo, Vergelegen hasn’t missed a beat, so to speak. Anglo American’s flagship white wine from their estate on the slopes of the Helderberg in Somerset West has been a hit since the maiden vintage 2001 right through to the 2015.

Champion at the Trophy Wine Show on 12 occasions, 5 Stars in nine editions of Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Top Wine SA Hall of Fame and one of the Top 100 in the SA Wine Classification. At the time of writing the 2015 had all but sold out, and/but we can expect just as much pleasure and class of the just-released 2016 vintage – perhaps more creamy than the 2015.

Vergelegen G.V.B 2015

WO Stellenbosch. The Semillon comes from 27-year-old vines on the Korhaan flats at 220m above sea level, the Sauvignon Blanc from the 20-year old Schaapenberg vineyard at an altitude of some 320m. The grapes were hand-picked then whole-bunch-pressed and barrel-fermented. The Semillon was fermented in French oak barrels (25% new), the Sauvignon in old 500L vats. The blend: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon. Matured for nine months before bottling. Released in June 2018.
Alc 14.5 | RS 2.3 | TA 6.4 | pH 3.2
Producer’s Tasting Notes: pale green colour with full ripe Semillon flavours dominating. The wine is rich and complex with a long aftertaste. Serve at 12-14ºC. Drink now or up to a decade after the vintage. Most enjoyable with oysters, crayfish, poultry and fish.
Cellar-door price: R410pb.