Copper Crew Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2020

A limited-edition Saffer Sauvignon Blanc from Copper Crew

Copper Crew are three guys - all somewhat ginger, hence the name - who have decided to make canned wine A Thing over here.

Two of them are based in the UK with Sam, the winemaker, in South Africa.

I was impressed with their first offerings, a red, white and rosé, not just as canned wine but as wine generally; the red, I thought, noticeably improved when re-sampled a few months after the initial tasting.

Now they have made a limited edition Sauvignon Blanc on a WIGIG basis, and I think it may just be their best wine yet.

Recognisably a Sauvignon, it is sophisticated and complex in a way that you don't associate with many Sauvignons, let alone canned wines.

It might even be a bit too good for a canned wine, but don't let that put you off.

Wine traditionalists may look down on canned wine, but in the real world, there are many reasons why you might want wine in a can:

- portion size: at 25cl it is suitable for when you don't want to open a full bottle

- environmental impact: cans are much lighter than bottles, so use less energy for transportation

- convenience: you can pop a can in your pocket in a way that you can't do with a bottle

Personally, I like the packaging and the innovation a lot; the wine's not bad either.

Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (£24.99 for 6 cans)

aromatic with exotic fruits; citrussy and fresh and tropical; lemongrass, lime zest and passionfruit. Substantial with leesy complexity and good underpinnings. Very well-made and harmonious.

Good.

Fresh enough to drink as an aperitif, this has the complexity to match with picnic foods such as cold cuts, quiche or dips.

***

Winemaker Sam notes: 

Why is this wine special?

Planted in 2002 on a cool South-Southeast slope, the vines sit at around 300m above sea level. The sandstone soils are farmed with a respect for nature and focus on soil health without using herbicides or inorganic fertilisers. Sunlight exposure in the bunch zone is critical for Sauvignon.

To avoid excessively green-notes and reduce disease pressure in Elgin’s cool, wet growing season, leaves are broken to increase sunlight penetration into the canopy and improve airflow. Sam notes A vibrant cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc.

The palate is fresh and racy, with extended lees contact lending depth and texture. Cape Gooseberry, tropical kiwi and Passionfruit are followed by zesty Lime and a touch of Nettle and there’s a definite minerality here that leads into a chalky finish.