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Ideal with roasted lamb shank, succulent rib-eye steak, or a hearty hunter’s stew. Rich, slow-cooked game dishes also pair beautifully.

The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are sourced from Vergelegen’s Rooiland, Stonepine, Rondekop, and other selected blocks in Stellenbosch. Vines are planted on well-drained Pinedene, Glenrosa, Clovelly, and deep red Hutton soils, which limit vigour yet ensure resilience. The sites enjoy a slightly warmer maritime climate sheltered from False Bay breezes. Vines average 16–21 years in age, all trellised on VSP systems, producing between 4.87 and 8.25 tons/ha depending on cultivar. Clones include Cabernet 169B and C46, Petit Verdot PR400 D, Merlot MO 348A and MO 192, and Cabernet Franc CF 1B. Rootstocks are 101-14 and R110.

The wine matured for 18 months in French oak barrels sourced from top coopers. The blend was assembled after 12 months and returned to barrel to knit together before bottling. The style focuses on integration of oak and fruit while preserving freshness.

Grapes were hand-sorted and destemmed into fermenters, with a portion of the Merlot fermented in new wooden barrels with heads removed. Fermentation employed a mix of yeasts to enhance site expression, conducted at 24.5–28°C with both open and closed pump-overs. Extended post-fermentation maceration averaged 3 weeks, followed by malolactic fermentation in tank. Blending occurred after 12 months of barrel ageing, with the final blend returned to barrel to integrate before bottling on 17 March 2023.

Situated at the tip of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope in the renowned Stellenbosch district Vergelegen is nestled between the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland mountains with views of Cape Town Table Mountain and False Bay. This fertile valley protected by granite cliffs enjoys a mild climate of long warm days that bring the fruit to full ripeness and cooling afternoon ocean breezes that lengthen the growing season intensifying the depth of fruit flavor in grapes. Favored with 21 soil types Vergelegen is rich ground for cultivating the breadth of noble varietals and clones essential for crafting the estates brilliant world-class wines. The estate has a rich and storied cultural history dating back to 1700. The philosophy at Vergelegen is simple: “To strive to produce the best possible wines by careful decision-making that maximizes the synergy between vineyard and winery.”ed at the tip of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope in the renowned Stellenbosch district Vergelegen is nestled between the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland mountains with views of Cape Town Table Mountain and False Bay. This fertile valley protected by granite cliffs enjoys a mild climate of long warm days that bring the fruit to full ripeness and cooling afternoon ocean breezes that lengthen the growing season intensifying the depth of fruit flavor in grapes. Favored with 21 soil types Vergelegen is rich ground for cultivating the breadth of noble varietals and clones essential for crafting the estates brilliant world-class wines.