2021 Remhoogte - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (750ml)

Grown on the highest vineyard rows of Remhoogte Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, this Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a small-batch expression of the estate's best fruit. The vines sit on decomposed Table Mountain sandstone over clay subsoils, on a steep south-facing slope exposed to the cooling summer winds off the sea. Leaves are stripped from the morning-sun side of the rows, and a green harvest at 80% veraison keeps ripening even across the block.

The grapes are hand harvested and sorted, both as bunches and individual berries, before spontaneous fermentation in French oak barriques and 40 days on the skins. Malolactic fermentation finished in barrel, and the wine matured for 24 months in 100% new French oak. That extended aging shows in the glass: a deep ruby color opens onto blackcurrant, cherry, and raspberry, layered with pencil shavings, cedar, and star anise. Cassis, eucalyptus, and a touch of pepper carry through the palate, with oak folded in seamlessly. Dark fruit stays juicy on the entry, balanced by lively acidity, while fine-grained tannin lingers into a long finish.

Approachable now, this Reserve Cabernet also has the structure to reward a decade or more in the cellar. Give it thirty minutes of air or a full decanting to let its layers unfold, and pair it with grilled red meat, aged cheese, or a hearty stew.