The Liberator Episode 43 ‘Companion Plants of the Sandveld’ Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Piekenierskloof, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

The Liberator is Richard Kelley MW’s Cape label, built on rescuing small parcels and dressing them in quirky names and cartoon art. ‘Companion Plants of the Sandveld’ salutes the wild fynbos flora that grows alongside the vines in this coastal, sandy country, and the name hints at a wine with a genuinely local accent.

The fruit was sourced from Tierhoek in the high Piekenierskloof, where altitude and cool nights help Sauvignon Blanc hold on to its aromatics and its bright, natural acidity. This is a world away from a simple, tropical style, and it shows what the grape can do when it is grown for tension and character rather than easy fruit.

As a fresh-picked 2024, this is a young wine caught in its first flush of energy. Expect it to be all about primary fruit and vitality now, with the crunch and lift of a recent vintage. A year or two in bottle may soften its edges a little, but there is plenty to enjoy in its current, youthful state.

In the glass expect citrus, gooseberry and green apple, lifted by a distinctive herbal, fynbos and menthol note that gives it real individuality and a sense of place. The palate is crisp and dry, with a clean, mineral finish that keeps you coming back for another sip.

For drinkers who find some Sauvignon Blanc a little predictable, this is a genuinely individual take on the grape. Serve it well chilled with goat’s cheese, green salads, sushi or a plate of fresh shellfish.