Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2021 with Karen Booth’s Russian Salad

Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2021, perfect partner to Karen Booth’s Russian Salad

Groot Constantia is the cradle of our Wine Industry and is situated in the Constantia Wine Appellation, about a 20 minute drive from the Cape Town City Centre. One of the older wineries, granted in 1652 to previous Dutch Governor, Simon van der Stel.

Floricius Beukes, Groot Constantia Vineyardist

The recent vintages of this wine have been stonkers. Testament to fine grapes from Floricius Beukes, the Estate’s Vineyardist and wine by Boela Gerber, the much awarded Winemaker. The blend is made up from 91% Sauvignon Blanc, and 9% Semillon. In the making, only free run juice is used and traditional white wine making methods applied/ a 6 month rest on its lees helps build the mid palate. The wines are then blended and prepared for bottling.

Boela Gerber in the Groot Constantia Vineyards

Pour

From a Burgundy shaped bottle, closed with natural cork. The label is simple and elegant with an etching of the Groot Constantia Manor House, in the style of a French Chateau. The bottle has the word Constantia embossed in glass just above the label. In the glass, the wine is gembright, a pale hay colour with youthful flashes of lime green. The aromas are of ripe white guava, desiccated pear and winter melon. Constantia Mountain fynbos herbaceous is in undertow. From entry there is a love line of acidity going through into the expected long Constantia ending. The palate is rich and generous, revealing ripe fruit and blackcurrant. Very impressive glass. While the wine is eminently drinkable now, it would reward you after a couple of years of cool cellaring. My 2019 is drinking beautifully now.

Lavendar & Lovage Russian Salad

Pair

The Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a refreshing sipping wine. It is very special with food. Karen Booth’s Lavender and Lovage Website published a recipe for a Russian Salad which would be a perfect partner. Russian Salad was a regular for a summer lunch when I was a child. A real retro dish, but quite up-to-date in Karen’s world. She is a former South African, living in the UK. Click HERE for her recipe and do have a good look at her website. I get a regular newsletter from her – do subscribe.

Karen Booth – https://www.lavenderandlovage.com