Skyfall

Excellent with grilled steak and salad, or venison pie.

As the name Skyfall alludes, the 18-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines drift down from the Banhoek skyline. The exquisite individual pockets reach up to 500m above sea level. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 70% of the vines planted on the estate. It has taken years of care, to coax the absolute best ‘personality’ from the diverse parcels of vines. Each of the 8 blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon are individually pruned and cared for to encourage character development, then separately harvested and vinified. Only the very best rows and blocks were selected, for a small-batch of the premium Cabernet – ‘the fingerprint of the harvest’.

70% new French Oak and 30% second fill French oak was used to mature this Cabernet Sauvignon for 18 months.

Fermentation lasts up to 14 days and then a further maceration period commences before the must is pressed and moved to oak.

Bartinney is set on the dramatic slopes of Botmaskop alongside the Helshoogte Pass overlooking the picturesque Banhoek Valley in Stellenbosch. Established in 1912 Bartinney has been in the Jordaan family since 1953. Now Rose and Michael Jordaan tend to the 28 hectare farm with a vision to create excellent wines and reawaken the charm of the historic land. Creating excellence in wine has not been a singular pursuit. Our belief is that every aspect must work in harmony: agriculture with nature people with animals sustainability with excellence. The old vines are planted to a height of 550m above sea level and with slopes as steep as 45 degrees creating wines that have exceptional expression and character. Small pockets of low yielding hand-tended Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vineyards offer up perfect fruit on the cooler elevated slopes. On the slightly lower foothills of the Botmaskop mountains the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are tended to. The perfect conditions to grow grapes with a balance of rich and mineral characters. The winged figure depicted on each bottle is called ‘Elevage’ and symbolises the French art of the selective maturing and ascension of a wine to its ultimate heights unfurling its most noble traits. This idea is embodied in the team work small-lot artisanal craft and gentle methods relied upon to create excellence year-on-year. World renowned sculptor Dylan Lewis’ magnificent sculpture ‘Elevage’ iconically resides in the acclaimed fynbos gardens resembling the winged figure of the Bartinney logo. Additionally landscape artist Strydom van der Merwe helped establish a two hectare land art form of ‘Elevage’ in fynbos in the Hourglass Chardonnay vineyard. Visible from an aeroplance this is the first of its kind in the world – a fitting tribute to Biodiversity and Sustainability. Bartinney wines are enjoyed at The Tasting Shed on Bartinney Estate or at the Bartinney Wine and Champagne Bar in the heart of Stellenbosch where guests regularly spill onto Bird Street glasses in hand.