Circumstance Cabernet Franc

Region

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vintage:

2021

Producer:

Waterkloof Estate

Grapes:

Cabernet Franc

Wine Description:

Classic Cabernet Franc on the nose with taut blackcurrant and wild plum fruit, hints of pencil shaving and lightly herbal notes. A taut, concentrated fruit filled wine which opens in the glass to give a complex, spicy finish with fresh acidity and supple tannins.

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including: soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Cabernet Franc is from two adjoining, windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) blocks 240-60m 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. 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 pigeage take 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 23 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additons other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, regeneratively farmed wine. 65 barrels made.
Vegetarian, Vegan.

Food Suggestion:

Cabernet Franc’s liveliness makes it an excellent food wine. A slow roasted lamb shank rubbed in rosemary would complement this wine exceptionally well.

Producer Description

Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned, organic, biodynamic and WWF Biodiversity Champion farm perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.