Ou Hoofgebou Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet-braised venison cheeks.

Ideal winter conditions provided substantial rainfall to supplement water reserves, with good cold units throughout the winter months of 2021. Bud-break was slightly later than usual due to the cold winter. Rainfall in the spring was also good for our vineyards during the critical times of flowering and crop set. A warm January in 2022 with a few heat waves was good for ripening, especially the red varieties. Relatively dry summer months allowed for grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness, with a long hangtime for flavour development.

Malolactic Fermentation was followed by further aging in French oak for 12 months, using only seasoned oak.

Fermentation took place in open-top stainless-steel fermenters. Punch-downs and pump-overs were performed 4 times daily to ensure balanced extraction of colour and tannins. After fermentation, the wine was macerated on the skins for 14 days.

Jean Engelbrecht along with his friends Dillie Malherbe and Jannie Durand set out to create a wine that would not only embody all that is Stellenbosch but that would also pay homage to this great town at the heart of the Cape winelands. Each wine in this range pays tribute to an historical landmark in Stellenbosch.