2020 Mt Bera ‘Dream Catcher’ Sauvignon Blanc

Good to see the top Sauvignon Blancs from the Adelaide Hills treated with some respect and not just offered up as simple fruit bombs – a touch of refinement is a wonderful thing. This is from a vineyard in the sub-region of Gumeracha, which was originally planted in 1985, to a mix of nine varieties. The theory was that the best grapes would stand up. It worked. That vineyard now only has the two varietals, Savvy and Pinot Gris (the very same Pinot Gris we enjoyed with the Dreamcatcher PG). The rest have been removed. A pale colour, there is elegance here. Notes of gooseberries, citrus, dry herbs, tropicals and spices with a good touch of grapefruit in the mix. A seamless palate with nicely balanced tension follows, fresh and lingering. This is fine now and will drink beautifully for the next couple of years.

This is a texural, savoury style that largely avoids the tropical fruit, but also the tangy, crunchy zip of young savvies. It’s soft and round in the mouth, a pleasant style and a nice change from the usual.