This wine is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc from specially selected vineyards in and around Stellenbosch.

The vineyards are selected based on the age of the vineyard and site from various parts of Stellenbosch, mostly non-irrigated and all low yielding. Giving a pure expression of its environment in the wine. The grapes are ripened to peak maturity between 23 and 25°C before being hand harvested and placed in a cold store overnight at 4 degrees Celsius. Bunch sorting and berry sorting takes place before gentle and partial crushing to small open wooden and stainless-steel fermenters. There is an initial cold soak period after which fermentation starts naturally and can take anything up to 14 days to complete. Extraction occurs through gentle pump overs and punch downs twice a day. Once fermentation has completed the wine may stay on the skins for an additional period of time which is dependent on the tannin development and ripeness. The wine is drained off and pressed in a vertical basket press. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel after which the wine is racked and returned to barrel for further maturation. Maturation takes place in 225 litre French oak barriques of which 22% is new and lasts for 21 months with regular rackings. The wine received no fining or filtration before bottling.

There is an intense deep dark garnet colour to this wine. Abundant aromas of ripe black berry fruits emanate from the glass. There are hints of dried herbs, tobacco spice and cedar in the background. The palate is generous with flavours of ripe blackcurrant and dark black berry notes. The tannins are firm with a grippy, yet fine tannin stucture. The mid-palate is rich and and full-bodied leading to a lingering finish of dried Italian herbs, cedar and tobacco leaf.

ANALYSIS: ALC 14.5% | RS 2.4 g/l | TA 5.6 g/l | pH 3.64