The grapes for this wine originate from the Helderberg area in Stellenbosch. The wine is made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
The growing season began well but progressed slowly due to prolonged cold conditions. While the increased moisture created some disease pressure, strong winds later in the season brought drier, healthier vineyard conditions. The vineyards caught up during the hot, dry summer, resulting in harvest commencing earlier than in the previous two vintages. The 2024 vintage has produced red wines that show excellent promise, with impressive concentration and quality
The grapes come from a single-block vineyard situated on the first prominent hills approximately 7 km from the False Bay coastline. The vineyard is trellised and planted in soils consisting of weathered granite and shale, providing excellent drainage while retaining sufficient moisture. Coffee rock gravel is also present throughout the site. Sustainable viticultural practices are employed, with careful canopy management to ensure optimal aeration and light penetration. Yields are controlled through green harvesting to enhance fruit concentration and quality.
The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness, destemmed, and transferred to stainless steel fermentation tanks. Fermentation was managed with twice-daily pump-overs to ensure gentle extraction of colour, flavour, and tannin. After four weeks on the skins, the wine was pressed and transferred to barrel. The wine matured for 18 months in 300-litre French oak barrels, all of which were second-fill. Total production was limited to 2,400 bottles
Originally intended for blending, the exceptional 2024 vintage produced a Cabernet Franc of such outstanding quality that it deserved to be bottled as a single varietal. Deep in colour and generous in intensity, the wine displays classic Cabernet Franc aromas of blackberries, ripe plums, green olives, violets, nutmeg and a subtle hint of mint. The palate is juicy and full-bodied, offering impressive depth and concentration. Firm, well-structured tannins provide power and definition, yet remain beautifully balanced, leading to a long, persistent finish. This is a wine with remarkable presence and excellent ageing potential.
Alcohol 14.38% vol
Total Acid 5.2 g/l
Residual Sugar 2.8 g/l
pH 3.60
