Kadette Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine pairs well with all types of steak, slow-cooked venison, braised beef short ribs, rosemary lamb shanks, matured cheddar, and beef stew.

The 2022 vintage was the latest in the past 25 years, about two weeks later than normal. A proper cold winter with sufficient rain resulted in a budbreak that was two weeks late. The earlier part of the season was quite cool, with December showing lower maximum and minimum temperatures. January was more moderate with a couple of hot days. These slow ripening conditions led to concentrated fruit development and palate weight.

The wine was aged for 12 months in second and third-fill 225L French Nevers oak barrels.

Fermentation took place in open-top concrete fermenters at 28°C. The floating skins were punched down mechanically every two hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3 to 5 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured for 12 months in 225L French Nevers oak barrels.

The name Kanonkop was derived from a kopje (hillock) from which a cannon was fired in the 17th Century to alert farmers in outlying areas that sailing ships plying the waters between Europe and the Far East had entered Table Bay for a stopover at Cape Town.