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Cabernet Franc Tasting - 13th August '24

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On the 13th of August we looked at cultivar Cabernet Franc, mostly in the fabled land of Cabernet Sauvignon greatness, namely Stellenbosch. In this tasting we asked the question does Cabernet Franc have the same affinity for the warmer Stellenbosch or the cooler sites? Especially knowing that Banhoek between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek has been heralded as the best or the most award winning wines for this varietal! Tasters were given a full set of notes detailing chemical analysis, information on viticulture and winemaking, as well as the description notes from the winemaker (these are available upon request). A big thank you to Jessica Igrec of Waterkloof, Marika Donohoe of Raats and to both Shaun McLeod and Bernard le Roux of Zorgvliet for sending me their facts sheets! Also handed out to the tasters was a set of notes detailing the nose and palate characteristics of the Cultivar, as well as a spreadsheet detailing the awards, prices and bottle stores that these wines can be obtained from in Johannesburg (these are also available upon request). The wines were served in one flight at the same temperature for comparative purposes. The following is the order that the wines were poured, the comments and the average scores of the wines tasted.


1. Chamonix Reserve Cabernet Franc 2021 (Franschhoek)


Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a red rim. Nose- spice, caramel, aniseed, black cherry and berries. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, tobacco, caramel, spice, black cherry and berries, wine needs time, still slightly closed.

Score- 17.06.


2. Stellenrust Barrel Selection Cabernet Franc 2021 (Stellenbosch Berg)


Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- spice, toffee, pencil shavings\lead pencil, plum, blue berries. Palate- crisp acidity, soft tannins, spice with cloves and black pepper, caramel, toffee, earthy, cedar, plum, black berry and cherry.

Score- 16.90.


3. Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2022 (Stellenbosch)


Colour- inky dark purple-red, with no gradation to a purple rim. Nose- pencil shavings, milky, spice, leather, plum, blackcurrants and cherries. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, spice, cedar, red cherry, black currants, plum, wine very young needs time to marry, still slightly apart.

Score- 16.33.


4. Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Franc 2019 (Schapenberg, Somerset West)


Colour- inky dark red almost garnet, with no gradation to a garnet rim. Nose- liquorice, chocolate, black cherry and berry, maraschino cherry. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, coffee, chocolate, spice, cloves, black cherry and berries.

Score- 16.71.


5. Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Franc 2019 (various vineyard sites on the Simonsberg)


Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a red rim. Nose- fynbos, green herbs, liquorice, coffee, sundried tomatoes, Farm yard, prunes, cassis, plum. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, liquorice, coffee, cedar, prune, plum and cassis.

Score- 16.58.


6. Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc 2021 (92% Cabernet Franc & 8% Merlot, from the Banhoek)


Colour- inky dark red, with no gradation to a red rim. Nose- caramel, toffee, mocha coffee, black currant and cherry. Palate- crisp acidity, soft but firm tannins, tobacco, liquorice, caramel, toffee, chocolate, black currants and cherry that lingers long to the finish.

Score- 17.00.


Top wine was the Chamonix, only just, from Zorgvliet, which originates from Banhoek, the “Holy Grail “of Cabernet Franc. Chamonix has always scored well and is a fairly warmer climate than many parts of Stellenbosch, except for in the winter where these vines get to rest allot better than their counterparts in Stellenbosch. Chamonix vineyards though, are very high up on the slopes of the Franschhoek mountains and thus may be similar in climate to the Zorgvliet wines in Banhoek? Third was another wine that always does well in tastings the Stellenrust. The Stellenrust is a well made wine with lots on the nose and the palate. The Raats was young and needs time, many felt that in a year or two this wine will be stunning, so the score maybe a bit down, due to the tasters struggling to get the wine to open up. Comments were made that we should taste a few colder climate wines, as well as a few very warm climate wines to establish whether the mountain vineyard sites in Stellenbosch are king for Cabernet Franc? Great tasting evoking lots of discussion, thanks to all who contributed and made this a great tasting!

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