2016 Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Exuberant aromas of menthol, clove, smoke and dry earth spice. The palate is wonderfully bright with amazing acids counter pointed by wonderful ripe black forest gatteau fruits and structural but fine tannins. This is perfectly pitched cool climate cabernet which contrasts the fruit purity and ripe tannins of the southern hemisphere but with none of the jaminess. Awesome stuff!
Critic scores
Average Score
Tim Atkin MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Main Road & Dignity has a precise nose with blackberry, sous-bois and light iodine scents, becoming more marine-like with aeration. Fine focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, decent grip and plenty of weight on the mid-palate yet more elegant and understated towards the lightly peppered finish. Some nice, Old World classicism on show here.
Relatively mature Cabernet vines. Vibrant mid-garnet colour. Pure nose of mature, cool-climate Cabernet – a herbaceous scent I do not encounter that often in this era of ever-warmer summers. There is some fruit here to counterbalance the acidity and some leafy aromas. Fresh, perfumed, sweet wine that's nicely in balance. Well done! Even if it's slightly skinnier than the Cabernet mainstream nowadays. (JR)
It takes courage to grow Cabernet Sauvignon in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, but Craig Wessels' two sites, both planted in 1999 but with different soil types and exposures, consistently deliver the goods. This is lighter and more forward than the 2015 - it could almost be a Cabernet Franc - with graphite and black cherry flavours and filigree tannins.