2022 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting Notes
A bit more purple in colour than the Franschhoek Cabernet. Juicy boysenberry and blackcurrant, incense smoke and tobacco notes. There's also an interesting saline character on the palate. The tannins feel bigger and more mouth-filling, but also softer and less grainy, than those of the Franschhoek Cabernet. This is juicier, plusher and more approachable now than its counterpart from Franschhoek, but it still has the structure to age nicely. (JRL)
Critic Scores
Average Score
Neal Martin, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch is 100% destemmed and aged for 22 months in 60% new French oak. It has a well-defined, more Bordeaux-like bouquet, with touches of pencil lead infusing the black fruit. It unfurls nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little oaky at the moment though that will be subsumed with time. Again, it’s quite Left Bank in style, with impressive tension and a slightly chalky-textured finish. As usual, I prefer this to the Franschhoek blend.
This is plush and delicious, showing notes of dark plums, dark chocolate, graphite, violets and some mocha. It’s full-bodied, polished and full of flavor, with ripe and fine-grained tannins. Classy, fresh and long finish. Drink or hold.
Gottfried Mocke's Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon has more grip, muscle and minerality than the Franschhoek bottling, and comes from a Lower Helderberg site close to the Polkadraai Hills. Inky and well-structured, it has layers of blueberry and blackberry, a waft of graphite and dried herbs and deftly integrated 60% new oak. 2026-35