Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon (South Africa)

This is simply another outstanding wine from Waterkloof, the winery owned by Paul Boutinot, originally from our beloved Heaton Moor. Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon is seriously elegant and sustainably made, and could easily pass as a top-end Bordeaux.

On the nose there is ample complexity with notes of pencil shavings, ripe blackberry and spice. A rich, succulent wine with lush blackurrant pastille fruit and smooth, fine tannins. Supple, concentrated and complex with fresh acidity on the long, complex finish.

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking makes each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range truly defined by the circumstances influencing the terroir, including: soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from a single, windswept, north-facing (more sun exposure) vineyard, 270-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. De-stemming and sorting takes place and fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing takes place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 35 days before going through malolactic fermentation in mainly old barriques then ageing for 20 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additions other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine. 66 barrels made.

Drink this with a South African-inspired braai (barbecue)!