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The Zorgvliet Simoné is a white Bordeaux-style blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc – it is their flagship white wine, named after one of the owner’s daughters: Simoné. It is sometimes hard to find a white Bordeaux-style blend with a larger portion of Sémillon in South Africa, because the Sauvignon Blanc normally dominates these blends. Contrary to what one might expect (a very grassy and heavy wine), this wine is very fruit-forward and easily approachable because it is made with absolute finesse and sensitivity to the varieties.
Grapes for this wine were harvested by hand and pressed into 500 litre French oak barrels after the juice was left on the skins. The lees were stirred often during barrel ageing to add to the complexity of the wine and blending took a total of 13 months.
In the glass, this wine has a pale-yellow colour with green tinges. It is forthcoming on the nose with citrus notes, stone fruit, bell pepper and dried hay. The entry on the palate is elegant with a great acidity and freshness that lasts throughout. Lime, lemon curd, green apple, honey and freshly cut grass tantalise the palate, with a stone minerality and salinity developing in the finish. It has a fresh finish that lasts long and an acidity that makes you linger for more.
This wine is best served chilled well and served in smaller glasses. It is ready to drink now or within the next 5-7 years. It can be enjoyed on its own or with food such as roast chicken, a shrimp cocktail, line fish or a chicken salad. It is good value for money and certainly worth a try. Just over 2000 bottles of this wine were produced.
Producer: Zorgvliet
Variety: 58% Sémillon, 42% Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2021
Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Winemaker: Bernard le Roux
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.59%
RS: 1.7g/l
Average price: R270
Rating: 95/100
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