Hamilton Russell, 'Southern Right' Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa, 2023

Overview of the Wine
One of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa, this Pinot noir and Chardonnay specialist pioneered viticulture in the beautiful, cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The Estate specialises in producing highly individual, terroir driven Pinot noir and Chardonnay, which are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the finest in the New World.

Founder, Tim Hamilton Russell, purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare property in 1975, after an exhaustive search for the most southerly site on which to make South Africa’s top cool climate wines from a selection of noble varieties.     

His son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, who took over in 1991 (finally buying the business in 1994), narrowed the range to Pinot noir and Chardonnay only and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an Estate, committing to work only with grapes from their terroir.

Anthony with his wife Olive, winemaker Emul Ross and viticulturist Johan Montgomery are completely dedicated to expressing the personality of the Hamilton Russell Vineyards terroir in their wines.

Tiny yields and intense worldwide demand keep the elegant, highly individual, Estate grown Pinot noir and Chardonnay in very short supply.

Click here to watch our Youtube video with the winemaker!

Winemaker
Emul Ross

Grape / Blend
Sauvignon Blanc

Origin
South Africa

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Made in a way ensuring the personality of site and soil is not over-ridden by the forceful character of the variety, this wine exhibits the typical Southern Right balance of tight "Old World" minerality and length with hints of "New World” texture and body. The 2023 is a wine that favours origin expressive individuality, minerality and palate complexity ahead of simple, pungent varietal aroma. A significant percentage of fruit from iron and clay-rich soil has added a textural and structural component and additional overall complexity to this wine. The sandstone soils have contributed their typical bright, tensile character and a marked, saline minerality. This is Sauvignon blanc as fine wine, not Sauvignon blanc as simply a varietal expression.

Despite slightly later bud-break for Sauvignon blanc, ripening was just over one week earlier in 2023. Later ripening sites were at risk from significant late February and March rains, but careful in-vineyard selection enabled us to bring only the best grapes to the cellar. At 24.18 centigrade for the average maximum temperatures for the 4 “hottest” months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) building up to and during harvest, 2023 was one of our coolest years on record. Burgundy for the equivalent period has an average of 24.66 Centigrade. For those lucky enough to harvest before the substantial late season rains 2023 produced vibrant energetic wines with wonderful natural acidity.

92 Points - Tim Atkin
Twenty-nine different components from Benguela Cove, Stanford and the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley make up the blend of this stylishly packaged Sauvignon Blanc. Sidestepping tutti-frutti flavours in favour of something more profound, this has layers of wet stones, greengage and pink grapefruit, subtle oaking and a salty undertone. 

Product size: 750ml