The wine is big, bold and full-bodied with intense aromas of black cherries, and blackcurrants with tobacco undertones. Oak aromas are well integrated and add to the complexity of the wine with underlying cedar and cigar box notes. Dark blackberry and plum flavours dominate the palate, followed by hints of cacao. A firm yet well integrated tannin structure and lingering finish. .
Also available in 375 ml
When to Enjoy: A rich and full wine to enjoy relaxing around the fire or with a scrumptious meal. How to Serve: We recommend decanting this wine and serving it between 16 and 18° C. Our meal suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon is not a delicate wine, so rich and wholesome fare is needed to show off the robust flavours. It is therefore best with aged prime rib or T-bone steak, medium rare – olive oil and mustard seed rump served with a peasant salad (everything except the leaves) or a hearty oxtail. Non meat options can prevail too such as black bean stew but don’t be limited by these ideas. Wine is most enjoyed - your way.
variety : Cabernet Sauvignon [ 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ]
winemaker : Jacques Viljoen
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol rs : 2.3 g/l pH : 3.66 ta : 5.7 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Full taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Cork
in the vineyard :
About the Estate
Zevenwacht Wine Estate, situated on the beautiful Stellenbosch Wine Route is a modern wine farm with a 300 year history. Owned and managed by the Johnson Family, the Estate has a strong commitment to historic and cultural preservation, as well as conservation of the surrounding indigenous environment. Two prime farming locations provide the grapes for the Zevenwacht winery. The home vineyard on the Estate’s panoramic 450 hectare maritime influenced property, supplies the majority of the grapes. The farm Zevenrivieren, situated at the crest of the Helshoogte Pass, provides winemaker, Jacques Viljoen, with a boutique selection of grapes that add to the fascinating variety of the wines.
The grapes for the 2012 vintage come from 3 different underlying vineyards, all on west south-west facing slopes. We crafted this wine from one older and two new vineyards. All three vineyards are at an altitude from 100–150m above sea-level. The situation of these blocks offers maximum exposure to the cooling sea breezes from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, keeping the vines and their fruit cool during the warmer days of the ripening period. In turn, this allows for the maximum flavour, colour and tannin development. The vines are trellised on a seven-wire hedge system and receive only supplementary drip irrigation.
in the cellar : The grapes were destalked and lightly crushed into 10-ton open top fermenters. The must was fermented at a regulated 28oC with regular pump overs, and punch downs. During the active part of fermentation, we punched down every 4 hours. This is done to break up the cap of the fermenting wine and to submerge the skins for colour and skin tannin extraction. We left the wine on the skins for a total of 21 days. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel, after which it was racked and then returned to 50% new and 50% 2nd fill French oak Hogsheads, for 16 months.