Rubaiyat

Good general accompaniments for this Bordeaux style wine are rich potato purées, potato dauphinoise, mushrooms and truffles with garlic, and grilled or roast meat.

The 2019 vintage will be remembered as one that followed the most severe drought in South Africa during 2018. In the second half of 2018, supporting rainfall ensured good soil moisture with cool and moderate ripening and harvesting conditions for 60% of the intake of the 2019 vintage. The 2019 crop was medium sized, resulting in some excellent wines. The Cabernet vineyards are situated in the Firgrove area, about 6 km from False Bay. The grapes are selected from specific sites focusing on lower yields, the age of the vines, and the soil types. The average berry weight of the selected vines is less than a gram, making them extremely small and concentrated. The Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot are from De Grendel and thrive inCape coffee stone and light top soil with deep broken laterite.

The wine was matured in these barrels for a further 18months.

Cabernet Sauvignon 61%, Petit Verdot 31%, Cabernet Franc 6%, Merlot 2%. A portion of the wine was made using the aerated pump over method in a closed tank with extended skin contact. The rest was made using the punch down method where a pneumatic punch down system was used four times a day and night. This punch down method ensures a much more concentrated extraction. The two portions were pressed separately and only blended before being transferred into new French Oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place.

De Grendel is a Durbanville wine estate where cool-climate vineyards and careful site selection shape a broad range of South African wines. Known for Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and red blends, the estate combines coastal influence, varietal clarity and a strong sense of Cape Town wine country.