2025 Savage - Sauvignon Blanc Salt River (750ml)

Savage Wines is the project of Duncan Savage, who spent years as winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards before launching his own label in 2011 and eventually devoting himself to it full time. His small urban winery takes its name from the Salt River neighborhood of Cape Town, a once-industrial pocket of the city now known for creative small businesses. Savage deliberately works without owning vineyards himself, instead building long-term relationships with growers whose generational knowledge of the region's granitic soils shapes every bottling.

This Sauvignon Blanc is blended from several vineyard sites around Stellenbosch, anchored by an old bush vine parcel on the slopes of Bottelary planted decades ago, with additional fruit from trellised and bush vine sites nearby. Grapes are picked for freshness rather than full ripeness, often across multiple passes through the vineyard. Fermentation takes place across a mix of stainless steel, concrete egg, and older barrels, followed by several months of lees aging before bottling.

The wine offers orange blossom, grapefruit pith, and Asian pear on the nose, layered over a distinct saline, mineral edge shaped by the region's maritime influence. The palate stays bright and taut, finishing clean and slightly briny. Pair it with fresh oysters, ceviche, or a simple green salad.