Inside the sprawling KWV Cellar in the centre of the town of Paarl there is a small stand-alone cellar called The Mentor’s Cellar. Here Izele van Blerck is responsible for the red wines and Kobus van der Merwe the whites. The teams take in grapes sourced for them by Marco Ventrella KWV’s Vineyardist who knows the vineyards of the Cape better than the back of his hand.
There are three current KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blancs, the 2013 from the Darling Wine appellation, and a 2013 from Stellenbosch and then a 2014 from Elim. It is interesting how they differ in flavour from region to region.
All three are bottled in Bordeaux shaped bottles with a classy screwcap top. In the glass they are all a pale golden straw colour with some green amber flashes.
KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Elim 2014
After destalking and crushing, the juice had skin contact for four hours before letting the free run off. After cold settling and racking fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with a 60-day period of contact with the lees. The wine was stirred weekly to build up mid palate flavour and creaminess in the wine. Flowers and asparagus on the nose with a strong showing of gooseberries. Nice textured complex palate with roadside fennel and canned peas. Fresh acidity from entry right through the long aftertaste.
KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2013
Same process as for the Elim wine. Aromas and flavours more green, fynbos herbs, fresh cut lawn, and the flavours more generous, the wine fuller in flavour and texture.
KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Darling 2013
Made by the same processes but allowed 6 hours of on skin maceration. The wine has aromas of sweet tropical lime, granadilla which are followed on the juicy fruity palate. And again the lovely long aftertaste.
They’re good with
All three of these wines are excellent as a glass on its own and all three are just brilliant as an aperitif before a meal. Perfect food partners for Anina Meyer’s Creamy Fish & Fennel Bake. Click here for her recipe.
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