Durbanville has developed a reputation for its Sauvignon Blanc. Think Durbanville and Sauvignon Blanc immediately stems to mind. With Sauvignon Blanc being such a successful variety in South Africa different regions and sub wards has lent their own specific identity to the Sauvignon Blanc variety. It is difficult to sum up or define the Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc rubber stamp but grassiness, green flavours and a certain herbaceous quality spring to mind.
Of all the Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc producers Nitida is perhaps the one with the most power and immediate aromas. At many tastings that I have attended pick up a glass of Nitida Sauvignon Blanc and the powerful aromas immediately jump out of the glass. Guavas, tropical fruit and a certain herbaceous character are the aromas that simply leap at one. It is a sad fact that most South African Sauvignon Blanc is drunk far too young. Perhaps this is because they are so appealing when young that they are drunk young and then so often forgotten by the consumer. But if you let it age many SA Sauvignon Blancs particularly from the cooler areas will reward you. Nitida is one of these wines however flamboyant they might be in their youth.
Coronata
As much as I enjoy the easy gratification of Nitida Sauvignon Blanc their Coronata Integration brings something different to the Nitida stable. A premium wine it is perhaps one of their finest offerings. 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon it is a more subtle, understated offering than some of the other offerings in the Nitida stable. The Sauvignon Blanc brings freshness whereas the Semillon rounds it off with its typical smooth, waxy character.
Perhaps the key to its success is the barrel fermented process that the Semillon undergoes together with the barrel maturation that the entire wine undergoes. This softens the wine adding an almost leesy character to the wine. Since a past operation I find young acidic wines difficult to drink and as much as I love many of our young Sauvignon Blancs they hit the scar tissue and I cannot drink them. I am forced simply to enjoy their fresh aromas and keep those that warrant it for long term cellaring.
Although the Nitida Coronata Integration is definitely a wine that will age well perhaps peaking at ten years I found it soft and open and easy to drink. I drank it quite rapidly finding that its lanolin character was easy on the stomach. It is quite a subtle wine, complex with a slightly ineffable character so I won’t attempt to describe it in words. I drank it on its own with some friends but it is also a food wine. The label recommends sole but salmon and even seared tuna will go well with it. It is nicely balanced with its 13% alcohol.
Taking a broader view of things the classical Bordeaux white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon has proved extremely successful in South Africa. Quite a number of producers have succeeded with it. Generally, these are premium wines of high quality. The Nitida Coronata Integration 2012 rightfully takes it place amongst some of the top Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blends that South Africa has to offer and adds to the growing complexity and diversity within the South African wine industry. On a light note I liked the ornately decorated screw cap. Screw caps are proving a good sealing device particularly for preserving the freshness of aromatic wines.
