Catherine Marshall Sauvignon Blanc '24

Catherine Marshall is well recognized as one of South Africa’s top winemakers. She was way ahead of her time, starting to produce wine in 1997, with one of the first “garage” wineries in a wine scene that was dominated mainly by the national cooperative and the established Stellenbosch estates. She began her career as a solo winemaker in 2007, after apprenticing at cellars locally as well as internationally, in France, the US, and Australia, and she refocused her production and purchased land in the Elgin region of South Africa. Her detailed, hands-on, respectful approach in the vineyards and in the wine production process are evident in the unique character of all her wines. The Sauvignon Blanc that composes this wine was harvested from vineyards in Elgin Valley and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, grown on sandstone and shale soils, in a cool maritime climate. The fruit is kept on the vines in the particularly cooler areas to allow more fruit flavors to develop and balance the acidity. Freshness on the nose and the palate are the hallmarks of Catherine Marshall’s wines.

After pressing, the must is settled to allow for solids to settle to the bottom of the tank. After two days, the clear juice is decanted off the solids. The wine is kept on the gross lees (yeast solids) for 4 months and stirred periodically to enhance the midpalate richness. The final wine is lightly fined and filtered into bottle.

On the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc shows aromas of green apple, orange zest, and nectarine, along with notes of blackcurrant leaf, fresh green herbs, and wet limestone. On the palate, it is medium bodied, with a mineral-driven finish and a slightly round texture that rounds out the vibrant acidity. Pair it with scallops, citrus-marinated roasted or grilled fish, sushi, or a five-spice stir-fry with asparagus, snap peas, and pork.