Gustus Sauvignon Blanc a delightful package of surprises
THE LATIN word for ‘taste’, Gustus is also the name of a really good-value range of wines from Darling Cellars outside the town on the R315 to Malmesbury, and the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc in the collection is surprising in more ways than one. Surprisingly good quality and interest value, benefitting surprisingly well from time in the bottle. Judged best unwooded South African wine submitted at the international Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2023, this review is considerably better than what experts thought of it a couple of years back at South Africa’s Veritas Awards and Trophy Wine Show where the panels awarded a silver and bronze medal respectively. Whereas the winemakers initially suggested two to three years in terms of ageing potential, the 2020 Gustus was apparently still good to go for a while yet when experts from around the world gathered to assess the entries at Mondial.
Also somewhat surprising is that while the packaging suggests 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it’s actually a blend including more than a splash of Semillon – something that the Mondial organisers weren’t aware of. And while the wine is clearly from South Africa, you have to read the small print towards the bottom of the back label to find any reference to the name of the cellar or the town/district, albeit that many consider Darling to be a credential worth crowing about when contemplating the best places in the Cape winelands to grow top Sauvignon Blanc.
GUSTUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020
WO Western Cape / Darling. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Semillon, planted on south-west-facing slopes on deep granite soils. Unirrigated bush vines. Grapes hand-selected for optimum ripeness before crushing, 12 hours skin contact, 14 days fermentation at 13°C. Reductive winemaking. Left on the lees (spent yeast) for six months in stainless steel tanks.
Alc 14.1 | RS 3.0 | TA 5.9 | pH 3.4
Winemakers’ Tasting Notes: Aromas of figs; watermelon on the nose. Tropical flavours of pineapple. Green undertones and ripe asparagus on the palate.
Pairing Recommendations: seafood, creamy chicken, garden salad.
R105pb from Darling Cellars, R110pb online.
