Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with a variety of rich, hearty dishes. Ideal pairings include grilled steaks, lamb chops, and beef short ribs. It also works well with roasted meats, such as duck or venison, and pairs beautifully with hard cheeses like aged cheddar, gouda, or Parmesan. The wine’s tannins and acidity make it a great match for dishes with rich tomato-based sauces and spicy barbecue fare.

The vineyards used for this Cabernet Sauvignon are planted on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, benefiting from a combination of cool breezes and optimal sunlight exposure. The soils are primarily composed of granite and clay, which enhance the wine's mineral character and complexity. Sustainable farming methods are practiced, focusing on natural vineyard management and minimal intervention to ensure the health of the vines and the quality of the grapes. The grapes are hand-harvested at peak ripeness to capture their full flavor potential.

The Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is aged for approximately 12-18 months in French oak barrels, with a mix of new and older barrels used. This aging process imparts subtle oak flavors, such as vanilla and spice, while allowing the wine to develop complexity and integrate its tannins. The use of French oak adds to the wine’s smooth texture and depth of flavor.

After hand-harvesting, the grapes are carefully sorted and destemmed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures to preserve the purity of the fruit flavors. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and enhance the mouthfeel. Gentle extraction techniques are used during fermentation to achieve a balanced tannin structure and to extract color and flavor from the skins.

Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, set at the foot of Simonberg in the Franschhoek wine valley. It has a fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, unique accommodation, fine food and wine, and evokes a sense of wellbeing. Our wines are produced in a state-of-the-art winery and are made to showcase the soils and climate where their grapes are grown. The Tasting Room sits adjacent to the Wine Cellar, offering views of the conical Babylonstoren hill, Simonsberg and the Banghoek Mountains. We have about 94 hectares (232 acres) under vine and produce 13 different grape varieties, with our highest vines – pinot noir and chardonnay – lying against Simonsberg at some 600 metres above sea level. Led by cellar master Charl Coetzee and winemaker Klaas Stoffberg, the farm’s 2011 harvest led to the first bottling of wine under the Babylonstoren label.