Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

FRANSCHHOEK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016

Alcohol: 14.82%vol

RS: 2.3g/l

TA:
5.3g/l

pH:
3.73

Vineyard

Our Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from four individual parcels adjacent to one another on a south-westerly aspect of our Franschhoek valley, where the soil is predominantly sandy loam over granitic bedrock. 2016 was a great vintage in all respects, although it was preceded by our wildest growing season to date, with extreme heat and drought conditions to be contended with. Harvest commenced two weeks earlier than usual and the Cabernets came in showing healthy fruit and a very high skin to pulp ratio, resulting in wines with exceptional tannins and big, bold phenolic structures, yet still offering wonderful natural acidity. For this unique vintage we opted to blend in 6% Cabernet Franc from our old vineyard on the farm, contributing subtle fragrance and finesse to the dark fruit spectrum.

Winemaking Philosophy (Vinification & Winemaker’s Comments)

Our intention was to create a textbook claret and to respect the signature Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet style. We worked with a classic dark berry fruit profile and managed to capture the full, rich character and deep flavours offered by the vintage. We opted for gentle vinification to avoid huge, monstrous wines. Grapes were picked by hand into small lug boxes, bunch sorted with berry selection and gently destalked. The grapes underwent a cold maceration in traditional concrete vessels and then fermented at temperatures between 27° and 30°C with frequent pump-overs to extract aromas, colour and tannins. After alcoholic fermentation a prolonged malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in 225 litre barriques. The wine was matured in French oak from our preferred coopers, Sylvain and Saury.

Tasting Notes

A brooding nose entices with its abundance of black- and blueberry aromas and hints of cigar box and tobacco spiciness. The palate is exceptionally full and round, yet precise with the crème de cassis, black currant and Cedar wood of the nose following through with notes of pencil shavings, red capsicum, tea leaf and subtle cloves. Grainy tannins and a perfect acidity balance the dark berry fruit on a rich mid-palate, suggesting significant ageing potentional. The finish is smooth and complex with its offering of red liquorice, fennel bulb and exotic spice and an impressive length.

Reviews 

92 points, Wine Enthusiast

This opens with classic Cab aromas of cassis, wild raspberry and plum, though the bouquet veers more juicy, vibrant and overall red in character than black. The medium-weight palate is plush and velvety in texture, with fine yet structuring tannins and bolder black fruit sensations of plum and currant that carry through to the long, cigar-spice-fueled finish.

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Franschhoek grapes and has a very reserved, tertiary and tobacco-stained bouquet that needs a little more fruit to come forthwith. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, supple red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, mixed with mint and dried herbs towards the long and composed finish. Not the most complex Cabernet Sauvignon, but it's sheer drinkability is a virtue.