Buitenverwachting Beyond Sauvignon Blanc 2014: Pale yellow-lemon color; faint figs, tropical fruit on the nose;
grapefruit, mango, yellow melon, lilt of lime, gooseberry, minerality on palate. Dry with excellent acidity, crisp, easy in the mouth, elegant, very tasty fruits, refined, polite, with fresh finish. This cool-climate sauv blanc is not complex, but it becomes compelling because it is such a smooth, easy drinker; I can’t think of anyone disliking this pour—you may desire more edginess, depth, and complexity, but you will be hard-pressed to find something to dislike. It is like the baby kitten or puppy that is so adorable and accommodating it melts even cat-dog dislikers. The winery originally formed part of the Constantia Estate, which was founded by Simon van der Stel, first governor of the New Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of South Africa, in 1773. In 1825, 90,000 vines were planted. The rest of the world may only recently have focused on South Africa wines, but they have been around for a very long time. While the Buitenverwachting history is deep, the current renewal started in 1982; today the winery produces some of the Cape’s most classic wines and is known for its sauv blancs. This effort is good example. Wines made here strive to live up to the winery’s name: Buitenverwachting is Dutch for “beyond expectation.” Indeed. $11-14