Unveiling the Secrets of Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is a wine that is bursting with stories, from both myside and the wine itself. Don’t you just love it when a wine has a good story to tell? I know I do and I’m so stocked to share my story with you.
You see my darling wine loving friends, we go back to 2020, during the height of Covid lockdown. Yeah remember those days? It almost feels like another lifetime ago. Well, Uncle Cyril finally gave us the thumbs up to move around but ONLY within our province. After being housebound for months on end, my hubby and I were both itching for a change of scenery. But where can we go?
Our usual holiday spots, Knysna and PE, were off the table since they were in the Eastern Cape, which had extremely high Covid numbers at the time. We didn’t want to risk it. We needed to find somewhere far away from people, somewhere secluded. That’s when we set our sights on the West Coast and the flowers in Nieuwoudtville.
That year, saw a good amount of rain and plenty of rain and snow. The flowers were promised to be at their best in 14 years. Eager to see this natural wonder, we packed our bags and hit the road. But I wanted to see the scenic route. Google maps misled us, as she said it would take us 3.5 hours to Nieuwoudtville. Anything but… it only took us 12 hours.
The entire 300 plus kilometer road trip was gravel roads. Need I say more? Yes, we drove it in our little i20! However, taking the scenic route despite it being a long and tedious route, the landscape left me in awe, it felt otherworldly, almost like being on Mars. The rock formations and the terrain were unlike anything I’d ever seen. It didn’t even feel like we were even in South Africa!
Our first stop on the way was at Cederberg Wines. One of the wine farms I have always wanted to visit. It is the highest vineyards in the Western Cape at between 950 and 1 100 m above sea level.
It was here at Cederberg Wines that I discovered the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc. I was absolutely amazed upon learning that these grapes are harvested at Spookfontein, somewhere between Elim and Cape Agulhus. The grapes are meticulously packed to ensure they make the journey to Cederberg Wine Farm for processing with minimal interference. This journey spans over 400 km and takes more than five hours. Wine that has gone through so much effort absolutely needs to be supported.
Fast forward five years, and I rediscovered the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019 while rummaging through my wine collection. (To be honest, I utterly forgot about this wine) I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me.
OH SHOOT!!!! Had I left this wine too long and ruined it? After all, it has been five years since the Ghost Corner SB was bottled, and it’s a white wine. My first concern was that it might have developed aging flaws, potentially turning into something resembling vinegar. Secondly, I feared that it had lost all its freshness and fruity character. Nobody wants to drink a wine that taste like that!
However, when I finally opened this bottle of Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019, I was left absolutely shocked! There wasn’t even a hint of aging. Normally, a white wine that’s more than five years old will definitely show some signs of age in its color, turning a golden hue. But not this wine. It remained bright with a pale lemon color. The nose was pronounced, and it still retained all its fruity vibrancy. No vinegar, no signs of aging… it was as if the wine had been bottled this year!
The Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc was so remarkable that before I knew it, the bottle was empty. It was just that good!
So, what makes the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc so remarkable? Well, I have now told my story… I think it is time for the wine to tell its story!
What makes Cederberg’s Ghost Corner Range so unique?
You see, my wine-loving friends, the wild and mysterious landscape at the southernmost tip of Africa inspired the Ghost Corner wines.
Picture this: It’s a dark and stormy night, and the Cape of Storms is showing her true colors. The compass readings are not playing along, showing no difference between magnetic and true north. Navigating these rough and wild waters becomes an impossible task. This is why more than 130 shipwrecks lie along this treacherous coastline. Folklore claims that the ghosts of sailors who perished through the years can be seen wandering the wild waters.
Inland from this dramatic coastline, in the Elim Ward, lie the vineyards where David is making the most of excellent growing conditions, cooling southeasterly breezes and extreme climate.
The deep lime-rich soil with plentiful slate and gravel deposits give rise to the exceptional Ghost Corner wines – Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and The Bowline.
A range of wines that linger on the palate, evoking a sense of mysteries past. These wines are as intriguing and extreme as the story of their origin at the southernmost tip of the Cape winelands.
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019
In the Vineyards
- Facing: South
- Soil types: Bokkeveld Slate, Koffieklip and Gravel
- Age of Vines: 15 years
- Planted: 14.51 ha
- Yield per hectare: 9 t/ha
- Trellised: Extended 6 wire Perold
- Irrigation: Supplementary
- Harvest date: 13 February – 12 March 2019
Winemaking Process:
- Grapes are hand harvested early morning at 20-23.5 balling.
- Winemaking processing is done in reductive conditions with the use of dry ice and carbon dioxide gas.
- Grapes crushed at 8°C with approximately five hours skin contact before a light pressing.
- Two days of juice settling followed by racking and addition of selected yeast.
- Fermentation is at 11°C for approximately 24 days.
- Finally, the wine is further maturated on fine lees for additional four months with a monthly battônage of tank before the final blending and bottling.
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Review
What you see in the glass:
You notice that the wine has a pale lemon hue. Very short tears/legs in the glass. Clear indication that this is a much cooler climate wine.
What does it smell like?
After giving the glass, a good swirl and sniff you immediately get the following aroma notes:
On the first sniff, the wine immediately transports you to standing on the ocean rocks. As you take a deep breath, you catch the beautiful icy cold sea air with hints of kelp and the saltiness from the waves crashing onto the rocks. As you walk along the coastline, the scent of typical sea fynbos growing in the area fills the air fills your glass.
Going in for second sniff you get notes of gooseberry, lime, passion fruit, green fig, green apple, white asparagus, and a tiny touch of green bell pepper come through.
There’s also a note of oiliness—like that unique smell when you walk around the docks at the waterfront. You know… that green bean, kelpy, green pepper scent? Sometimes you catch that same aroma when the fog rolls into the CBD of Cape Town. Sigh, now I miss working in town!
What does it taste like?
The taste is immediately brimming with fynbos. Notes of dusty minerals and saline evoke the feeling of a salty breeze on your skin, mingled with the essence of crushed seashells underfoot. The palate bursts with layers of gooseberry, grapefruit, and lime, adding a zesty brightness. The pear and green apple contribute a crisp, refreshing quality, while green fig and kiwi brings a touch of exotic fruitiness.
The wine’s poised acidity dances on your tongue, making it wonderfully lively and moreish. Each sip reveals complex layers, leading to a long, opulent finish. This wine achieves a remarkable concentration and balance, offering a sensation of fullness yet remaining crisp. The taste of fynbos lingers beautifully in the background, a lasting reminder of its coastal origins.
What food pairs with the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019?
This is a wine that will stand up to many of those foods that are often tough to pair. Capers are always a tough one – this is your wine. Aahh! Salad niçoise or a great tartare and Mexican salsas (raw) – do the dance afterwards or during. Asparagus in all shapes and ways. Tartare sauce. Cheese: Halloumi dishes
For me personally – I think this wine will do so well with a braaied spicy and apricot glazed snoek. Even a smoor snoek will do so well.
In Conclusion…
Discovering the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019 was an unexpected surprise. This wine is nothing short of extraordinary. The bright pale lemon color and the pronounced nose defy its age, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship behind it. Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2019 offers a tasting experience that is complex but yet also balanced.
It’s a testament to the unique terroir at the southernmost tip of Africa, delivering a glass of wine that is full and crisp with a long, opulent finish. This wine truly captures the essence of its coastal origins, leaving you longing for more. Overall – it is an outstanding wine! One that I will happily purchase again!