Indaba Sauvignon Blanc 2017
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#43 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buys of 2018
Enticing citrus and tropical fruit aromas lead to fresh, zesty flavors of pineapple, lemon-lime, mango and green fig, supported by a spine of racy acidity. Herbal undertones shine through on the mineral-tinged finish.
2017 was an exceptional vintage. The growing season was characterized by extremely dry conditions, with ideal warm days and cool nights and none of the typical summer heatwaves. The drought conditions meant that there was no rot or disease pressure and resulted in small berries and reduced yields. Grapes retained excellent natural acidity and the vintage produced wines of great freshness, concentration and flavor intensity.
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Wine Enthusiast
This crisp, clean white offers upfront scents of freshly dried grass, orange peel, lemon custard and fresh mint. The palate shows great balance between the flavors of ripe apple flesh, strawberry hull and bright, citrusy acidity, while the herbal inflections return to accent the medium-length finish.
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Indaba (pronounced in-dah-bah) is a word that has widespread use throughout South Africa. It means ”to come together,” and Indaba believes their wines embody that spirit. Indaba works closely with conscientious farmers in prime appellations who have perfected the art of grape growing over generations and strive to continuously improve critical conservation practices. Giving back to the people and place where the wines come from has always been a key part of their philosophy. For over 20 years Indaba has invested in social progress in the Cape Winelands where it is produced. A portion of all sales supports organizations that are working to empower the region and its people, building a brighter future. Fresh and easy-drinking with a quality that is unbeatable, they are made for everyday and suitable for any occasion. Grab a bottle on your way home from work, bring one over to a friend’s house for dinner, or simply enjoy a glass whenever you need a getaway to a sunny state of mind.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
With an important wine renaissance in full swing, impressive red and white bargains abound in South Africa. The country has a particularly long and rich history with winemaking, especially considering its status as part of the “New World.” In the mid-17th century, the lusciously sweet dessert wines of Constantia were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Since then, the South African wine industry has experienced some setbacks due to the phylloxera infestation of the late 1800s and political difficulties throughout the following century.
Today, however, South Africa is increasingly responsible for high-demand, high-quality wines—a blessing to put the country back on the international wine map. Wine production is mainly situated around Cape Town, where the climate is generally warm to hot. But the Benguela Current from Antarctica provides brisk ocean breezes necessary for steady ripening of grapes. Similarly, cooler, high-elevation vineyard sites throughout South Africa offer similar, favorable growing conditions.
South Africa’s wine zones are divided into region, then smaller districts and finally wards, but the country’s wine styles are differentiated more by grape variety than by region. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the country’s “signature” grape, responsible for red-fruit-driven, spicy, earthy reds. When Pinotage is blended with other red varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Pinot Noir (all commonly vinified alone as well), it is often labeled as a “Cape Blend.” Chenin Blanc (locally known as “Steen”) dominates white wine production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc following close behind.