Peacock Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Peacock Wild Ferment is a Sauvignon Blanc from False Bay Vineyards, the organic project Paul Boutinot of Waterkloof set up in Stellenbosch, in South Africa's Coastal Region, to make honest wines from old vineyards at a fair price. The site overlooks False Bay, and the cold air drawn off the Atlantic keeps daytime heat in check and stretches out the growing season, which locks in the crisp acidity and green aromatics that define the grape. As the name says, the fruit is fermented with wild yeasts rather than a cultured strain. Spontaneous fermentation works more slowly and draws on the mix of yeasts present in the vineyard and cellar, adding a broader, more textured mouthfeel and a savoury complexity beyond simple primary fruit. There is no new oak, so the fruit and minerality stay in front. Expect a pale colour with a green tint, a nose of lemon, green apple and elderflower with a herbal thyme note, and a dry palate framed by a saline, stony finish. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.