2009 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley*

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon sees 19 months in mainly French oak of which 70% is new. It has an attractive nose of mulberry, blackberry leaf and a touch of warm gravel that is well defined and more understated than I expected. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a very elegant finish of raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. This is a very well crafted Cabernet that shows more harmony and complexity than the entry-level range. Drink now-2018. Gary Jordan is one of the most thoughtful winemakers you can meet, someone instrumental in putting Stellenbosch and indeed, South African wine as a whole, on the international map. Importer: World Premier Wines, Moorsville, NC. Tel: 704 360 4208.