Vineyard Selection
The Cabernet vineyards are situated in the Firgrove area, about 6km from False Bay. The grapes are selected from specific sites focusing on lower yields, the age of the vines and the soil types. The average berry weight of the selected bunches is less than a gram, making them extremely small and concentrated.
Terroir Expression
The Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are from De Grendel and thrive in Cape coffee stone and light topsoil with deep laterite shale, rusty red in colour and high in iron oxide and aluminium. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.
Craftsmanship in Winemaking
A portion of the wine was made using the aerated pump over method in a closed tank with extended skin contact. The rest was made using the punch down method where a pneumatic punch down system was used four times a day and night. This punch down method ensures a much more concentrated extraction. The two portions were pressed separately and then blended before being transferred into new French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place. The wine was matured in these same barrels for a further 18 months.
