Buitenverwachting Cabernet Franc 2014

The Constantia Wine Route recently held a tasting to showcase its red wines – whereas 43% of the 435ha of what’s planted in this ward is Sauvignon Blanc, the next two most widely occurring varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, together making up some 17%.

Constantia wants to leverage its “cool climate” credentials and you might think that this would facilitate the slow accumulation of sugars and therefore the ability to achieve phenolic ripeness at lower alcohol levels but the stand-out wine of the tasting was the currently-available Cabernet Franc 2014 from Buitenverwachting clocking in at 15.2% alcohol.

Matured for 26 months in French oak barrels, of which 100% was new, the nose is complex with notes of dark berries, potpourri, some leafiness, undergrowth, earth and pencil shavings while the palate is well proportioned with dense fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins. It carries its alcohol well and comes across as still very youthful. Price: R380 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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