Petrichor

The rich, tender qualities of a rack of lamb will be the perfect companion to this Bordeauxstyle red wine. The fatty acid of the herblike-flavoured lamb will marry beautifully with the depth and flavour spectrum of our Petrichor.

The Petrichor 2022 – is a fusion of 5 grape varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon as the main component at 57%, Cabernet Franc 18%, Merlot 12%, Petite Verdot 9%, and Carménère at 4%. The blend represents 3 growing regions with – Stellenbosch at 53%, Paarl at 30%, and 17% from Wellington. The average age of the vines combined is 28 years. These vines are grown in a combination of granite soils against the Helderberg Mountain, Stellenbosch, and well-drained granite and shale soils of Paarl and Table Mountain sandstone of Wellington.

The different components are aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, and 5% new French oak is used to respect the varietal characters.

All fruit are handpicked in small picking crates to protect the integrity of the fruit. Grapes are hand sorted ensuring only the best fruit are transferred to the tank for fermentation. A combination of wild and cultured yeast transforms the grape juice into wine. Huge amounts of oxygen are incorporated to stabilize colour and lock in aromas and varietal expression while encapsulating the tannin structure.

Carmen Stevens Wines was established in 2011 with our maiden vintage in 2014. Carmen Stevens has been in the South African Wine Industry since qualifying in 1995. Carmen graduated as the first black South African to study the art of winemaking in South Africa. In January 2019, Carmen registered the first 100% black-owned winery in South Africa in the picturesque Stellenbosch. We celebrate each growing season by highlighting the attributes that Mother Nature gives us with each vintage. Our work is to accentuate the positive attributes of the specific year and display these characteristics in full to the wine enthusiast. Each bottle of Carmen Stevens Wines is truly handmade, and we are committed to only using plant-derived additives that ensure our wines can be enjoyed by all. We source our fruit from a range of grape-growing regions with exceptional vineyards, enabling us to celebrate the array of soil types of South Africa, each adding its unique touch to our wines. Individual small batches of wines are handmade and blended later to heighten what we strive to showcase in each vintage.