Winemaker Notes
Bold aromas of ripe brambles, mulberries, blackberries, and cassis dominate an inviting, sophisticated nose with whiffs of graphite and cedar. The complex berry fruit character of the nose follows through onto a juicy palate with flavors of blueberries, plum sauce, and nuances of Cape fynbos, bay leaf, wet gravel, and pencil lead. Fine-grained, powdery tannins and integrated lemony acidity add to the fine structure of the wine and its exceptional balance. Subtle notes of cocoa powder, dark chocolate and oregano persist on a smooth, rich finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Inviting aromas of blackcurrants, graphite, rosemary and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Well-defined with transparent black fruit and berries. Mineral and herbal undertones. Very nicely constructed and varietal. Sustainable. Best after 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, presents a firmer and more generous profile on both the nose and palate compared to its Franschhoek counterpart. With a dusty yet assertive nose, it's marked by succulent dark cherry and spicy plum aromas, complemented by notes of oak and herbal undertones. Medium to full-bodied, this wine unfolds with sturdy freshness and smooth minerality, driven by a firm tannic structure. It's a wine that benefits from either pairing it with food or giving it some additional aging time; both options will enhance its complexity. Aged for 22 months, with 65% in new French oak, this wine promises a rewarding experience.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.