Douwe Steyn Cabernet Sauvignon

Definitely to be enjoyed with tick cutlets of fillet medallions served on a bed of creamy mash with a spicy pepper reduction or also a great accompaniment to rack of lamb.

Grapes for this wine are harvested from bush vine which was planted in 1942. The soil type is a combination of red clay and decomposed granite and the vineyards follow an east to west planting pattern. Bush vine is a very traditional way of growing grapes in South Africa where the grapes mature and ripen in the shade of the bush. Very few Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are still grown as bush vine as it reduces yield but also slows the ripening of the grapes.

The wine is then preserved and matured for 24-36 months in small new French oak barrels.

Grapes are picked between 25 and 26 Balling. It is destemmed, crushed and allowed skin contact through cold maceration for 2 days. Thereafter wild yeast fermentation takes place in open concrete tanks. The cap is manually punched down every 2-6 hours over a period of slow fermentation. After fermentation has finished an additional 2 days post-fermentation skin maceration is allowed. Normal skin contact time is just over two weeks.

Stellenrust is a Stellenbosch producer working with nearly 400 hectares of vineyards across the Helderberg and Bottelary Hills. Known for Chenin Blanc and a broad range of South African wines, the estate focuses on matching varieties to site and capturing the character of Stellenbosch’s diverse soils and slopes.