KANONKOP Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch
From five-wire hedge-trained vines planted mostly in the 1990s in decomposed granite soils and vinified for five days on skins in open fermenters with two-hourly manual punch-downs, then matured for 24 months in 225-litre French oak barrels (Nevers), 50% new and 50% second-use.
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon is typically dense and full-bodied with notes of blackcurrant, plum, cedar and spice which continue on to the palate, which is balanced by good acidity and integrated, ripe tannins. This wine will benefit from up to 15 years of careful cellaring.
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon spent 24 months in 50% new and 50% second-fill French oak. It has very good lift on the nose and a touch more definition and red fruit compared to the previous vintage. The palate is well balanced, with fine-grained tannin, and chewy in the mouth at first but finding more precision toward the black-pepper-tinged finish. Give this well-made Cabernet another year in bottle.
89 points, Vinous (August 2018)
Mature, offering subtle mint, tobacco and singed alder notes mingling with gently mulled black currant and plum fruit flavours. The long, fine-grained tannins hold the finish until a mineral hint checks in at the very end. Drink now through 2023.
91 points, Wine Spectator (2019)
...scented, leafy and refined, with tobacco pouch and wild herb aromas and some of the cool elegance of the 2014 vintage. Drink 2020-2028.
94 points, TimAtkin.com
Masterly... immediate sensual appeal of tobacco-seamed cassis deepens into more cerebral, tightly packed dark and subtly spiced fruit, finely honed form from seamless marriage of ripe grape tannins and 50% new oak. Will reward decade plus cellaring.
94 points & 4.5 stars, Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2019
