Tokara Stellenbosch
Director’s Reserve White
Part of Tokara’s Director’s Reserve range, this white blend is all about elegance and structure. Handpicked from a single vineyard, it is a barrel-fermented mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, a classic Bordeaux-style blend.
On the nose, you get preserved quince and pink grapefruit right up front. Then a cheeky hint of cantaloupe sneaks in, and yes, there is toasted brioche and a fleeting wink of honeyed almonds, just enough to make you smile. The palate is generous but not heavy. Ripe citrus and soft stone fruit dance around a bright, zesty lift that keeps everything bouncing. The finish is long and layered with citrus peel, gentle spice, and a subtle mineral note. It is drinking beautifully now, but pop it in the cellar for a few years and it will unfurl even more.
Region: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Stellenbosch WO
Varietal/Blend: 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon
ABV: 14%
Vineyard & Vine Age: This Director's Reserve White is grown on the highest slopes of Tokara’s Stellenbosch estate. The vineyard sits on Oakleaf soils formed from decomposed granite and colluvial sandstone, with a high fraction of gravel and friable granite, and enjoys south and south-west facing slopes ranging from 360 to 540 meters above sea level. The vines are carefully cropped, yielding 6 to 8 tons per hectare, and the grapes are hand-picked at peak ripeness — sugars between 22.3 and 23.5° Brix, acidities from 6 to 8.5 g/L.
Cellar: Once harvested, the grapes are destemmed, lightly crushed, and pressed immediately in an inert press. The press juice and free-run juice are kept separate and allowed to settle overnight, with only the free-run juice from the best blocks used in this wine. Fermentation takes place in 400L French oak barrels, 37% new, allowing the wine to develop richness without losing freshness. After fermentation, the barrels are topped and the wine rests on its fine lees for nine months, with regular stirring to build texture and depth. The blend is finalized in November, then stabilized and prepared for bottling
CSPC:
Winemakers Note:
What the Critics are saying:
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Region: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Stellenbosch WO
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TECHNICAL INFO
Varietal/Blend: 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon
ABV: 14%
Vineyard: This Director's Reserve White is grown on the highest slopes of Tokara’s Stellenbosch estate. The vineyard sits on Oakleaf soils formed from decomposed granite and colluvial sandstone, with a high fraction of gravel and friable granite, and enjoys south and south-west facing slopes ranging from 360 to 540 meters above sea level. The vines are carefully cropped, yielding 6 to 8 tons per hectare, and the grapes are hand-picked at peak ripeness — sugars between 22.3 and 23.5° Brix, acidities from 6 to 8.5 g/L.
Cellar: Once harvested, the grapes are destemmed, lightly crushed, and pressed immediately in an inert press. The press juice and free-run juice are kept separate and allowed to settle overnight, with only the free-run juice from the best blocks used in this wine. Fermentation takes place in 400L French oak barrels, 37% new, allowing the wine to develop richness without losing freshness. After fermentation, the barrels are topped and the wine rests on its fine lees for nine months, with regular stirring to build texture and depth. The blend is finalized in November, then stabilized and prepared for bottling
CSPC:
Winemakers Note:
What the Critics are saying:
Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South
T: 403-971-1898
E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca
Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North
T: 780-203-5284
E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca
New Title
New Title
New Paragraph
TECHNICAL INFO
Country: South Africa
Region: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Stellenbosch WO
Climate: Moderate Mediterranean
Altitude: 150-215m
Soils: Deep, red volcanic soil
Varietal/Blend: 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.
Ageing: Aged in old oak puncheons.
Vineyard & Vine Age: Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.
ABV: 14%
Produced Cases: 50
CSPC:
Calgary + Alberta South
Andrew Stewart
403-604-0408
andrew@vinoalvino.ca
Edmonton + Alberta North
Joe Gurba
780-203-5284
joe@vinoalvino.ca
Saskatoon + Saskatchewan South
Kerrie Gavin
306-290-0277
kerrie@vinoalvino.ca
