Damascene
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch, South Africa
Bottle size:
750 ml
Shipping: R99 nationwide
Damascene
DAMASCENE is a partnership between Jean Smit and David Curl, former owner of Château Gaby in Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux. What began as a conversation around making wine from the Pinot Noir planted on Curl’s Elgin estate swiftly revealed the pair’s shared passion for celebrating unsung pockets of South African terroir. Following the maxim of ‘Less cult, more cultivation’, the founding philosophy of DAMASCENE is simple, yet unyielding: that the journey to great wine can only begin in the vineyard. “DAMASCENE is about seeking out memorable vineyards and sites that truly showcase the incredible diversity of terroir we have here in the Western Cape,” says Smit. “I spend countless days on the road, covering thousands of kilometres, visiting vineyards and farmers in search of special parcels of land.”
Description
Three different sites, the Helderberg, Bottelary, Polkadraai Hills combine for a nexus of opulence, minerality and fruit intensity. Intricate yet powerful, iodine and iron filings meld with bright cranberry fruit, earthy red berries, tobacco leaf and an incense like musk, seasoned with sweet spice from 22 months in new French oak. The fruit on the palate is precise and concentrated, tight, guarding the cassis to come. Woven tannin lies as gossamer silk, smooth but immutable, framing red plum compote that slowly reveals itself against a mineral granitic mid-palate; a refreshing acidity and moderate alcohol uplift and intensify the fruit purity and freshness on the finish.
Food Pairing
Enjoy with grilled veal chops, meaty stews or a fantastic piece of steak.
