THE KATALYST SAUVIGNON BLANC 2025

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"It comes from a fantastic site in the Southern Valleys, grown on heavy clay soils, expressing tropical fruit, citrus, and a subtle dried sage note. On the palate, there’s a gentle line of acidity carrying flavours of stone fruit and exotic fruits, alongside a mineral texture. This is not an immediate, upfront style,  it’s designed to evolve and develop further complexity with age.

From a winemaking perspective, the fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented entirely in older French oak barrels. Fermentation was partly with indigenous yeast and partly with a textural yeast strain. The wine was aged for 10 months in barrel on full lees, with occasional gentle stirring, and underwent partial malolactic fermentation to round out the palate. Overall, the approach was relatively hands-off, aiming to express the site as naturally as possible. Again, this is a tiny release, only 450 bottles are available."

5 Stars & 95/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, July 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"A stylish, barrel-fermented rendition, the elegantly complex bouquet showcases grapefruit, kaffir lime, crunchy apple, oatmeal, and green tea characters. It's concentrated and finely flowing in the mouth, offering excellent vibrancy and intensity, splendidly supported by a saline texture and beautifully pitched acidity, making it flavoursome and persistent. At its best: now to 2032."

94/100 Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, September 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"Light gold. Initially reticent, this opens with air to reveal a wine of depth and complexity. Judicious application of wood brings spice and structure, surrounding the elegant, racy and concentrated palate of ripe lemon, mirabelle and golden kiwifruit in a latticework of chalky grip, hints of cream and a cloak of various dried spices and herbs. There are suggestions of pepper and nettle lurking in the margins alongside a distinctly savoury, pastry and mushroom note of lees-ageing and perhaps wild fermentation. Just starting to open up but clearly impressive and possessing excellent length, this will improve with time in bottle."

Reviews for the 2024 vintage below…

Rated Excellent & 93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, February 2025 (2024 Vintage)
"Great colour and brightness with shades of pale straw and youthful green. An excellent bouquet showcasing variety and style with aromas of cape gooseberry and passionfruit, then grapefruit, angelica and sage. Youthful, bright and fragrant. Dry, taut and youthful with the grab of acidity loading onto the palate first, then flavours of citrus and sage, tropical fruit and a cold river stone minerality. Lengthy finish, new and delicious with best drinking from mid to late 2025 through 2029+."