Grape Varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon (100%)
Winemaking Method and Maturation:
Crafted from hand-selected grapes grown in the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch, renowned as South Africa's "Kingdom of Cabernet." Here, mountain slopes, coastal breezes, and granite-rich soils shape a pure, concentrated expression of the varietal. Precision vineyard practices—like leaf thinning, green harvesting, and careful bunch selection—ensure only the finest fruit reaches the cellar. Warm days and cool nights enhance colour and flavour, resulting in a wine of remarkable depth and intensity.
Meticulous quality sorting continues in the cellar, ensuring only perfectly ripened berries are vinified. Fermentation occurs over two weeks in stainless steel tanks with regular pump-overs for vibrant colour and supple tannins.
Embracing minimal intervention, the wine undergoes light filtration and matures for 16 to 18 months in 300-litre French oak barrels(34% new, 33% second-fill, 33% third-fill) for a balanced oak influence. Final bottle maturation enhances integration and complexity, resulting in a wine of elegance and true sense of place.
Wine Tasting Notes:
On colour
Avontuur "The West Peak" Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 immediately impresses with its deep garnet hue, alluding to the concentration and vibrancy within the glass, and capturing the refined essence of Helderberg terroir.
On the nose
The aromatic profile is vivid, led by notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and blueberry, lifted by a brightness of redcurrant. Layers of sophistication emerge with subtle hints of cedar, graphite, cigar box, and dark chocolate, delivering both opulence and terroir expression.
On the palate
The palate unfolds with lush black fruit and earthy mulberry, enveloped by vibrant acidity and fine, chalky tannins for a poised structure. Underlying complexity arises from delicate undertones of cedar, graphite, oak spice, and dark chocolate, culminating in a long finish layered with espresso and ripe fruit. This youthful Cabernet already shows depth, but promises even greater nuance and suppleness with cellaring.
On the whole
A sophisticated, terroir-driven Cabernet, rich in dark fruit, detail, and age-worthy structure.
| Alcohol |
14.34% |
| Residual sugar |
2.3g/l |
| Acidity |
5.83g/l |
|
Ph Level
|
3.54 |
| Wine of Origin |
Stellenbosch |
| Producer |
Avontuur |
