Cabernet Sauvignon

Enjoy with rare grilled beef on the braai.

1st block 27-year-old vines on 7 wire vertical trellis. Mix of 3 different clones on 101-14 rootstock. Elevation393 vineyard. – high altitude mountain slope. Soil deep red Hutton decomposed granite. Yield 3 tons/ ha. (18hℓ/ha) 2nd block 18-year-old vines on 7 wire vertical trellis. Clone CS169, 46 & 163 on 101-14 rootstock. North facing Keermont vineyard. Soil deep red Hutton decomposed granite. Yield 6 tons / ha (36hℓ/ha) 3rd block 12-year-old vines on 7 wire vertical trellis. Clone CS23 on R110 rootstock. Elevation 393 vineyard – high altitude mountain slope. Soil deep red Hutton decomposed granite. Yield 7 tons / ha. (42hℓ/ha) These yields equate to around 1,2kg of fruit per vine, arguably the threshold to produce GREAT wine! A late, but above average rainfall winter and spring ensured the soil profile was saturated contributing to a good growing season. Intermittent rain meant fungal disease pressure was quite high and we had to be on our toes with the spray programme. There were enough cold units for good even budbreak. A relatively cool growing season and ripening period meant ripening was slow and steady leading to one of the most exceptional vintages we’ve experienced. Good acidity and pHs

Time in barrels 23 months with several rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation. Minimal use of sulphur and nothing else added. Bottled unfiltered by hand on the property.

100% destemming and crushing by hand directly into 2 ton open top fermentation tanks. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation at max. 29ºC. including pre fermentation and post fermentation soaks with regular punch downs for up to 15 days, depending on each parcel. Wine drained directly to barrels, together with single pressing from traditional basket press for malolactic fermentation. 35% new French oak was used from high quality coopers.

A small family winery at the end of the Upper Blaauwklippen Road in the mountains above Stellenbosch South Africa. Established in 1992 by architect David Trafford & artist wife Rita with the focus on high end red wines of great intensity & longevity using minimal intervention production methods.