2019 Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon

Founded by the Frenchman Paul Boutinot, Waterkloof is located in the 'ward' Helderberg, within the Stellenbosch district. The vineyards are located a few kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. Paul and his right-hand man, Christiaan Loots, work in an organic and biodynamic way and the vineyards are only entered with horses, no tractors. In just a few years, Waterkloof has built up a strong reputation. When you enter the farm you will see the cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and horses that we use for their manure, weed control and many other purposes. The soils are free of chemicals and are kept healthy by using plant extracts, fungi and bacteria from our own natural compost. By healthier soils we mean vines with roots that dig deeper than 5 meters, which really expresses the terroir.

A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most famous red wine grape in the world and is celebrated as the king of red wines for its great structure. With its small, thick-skinned berries, it is rich in color and tannins. The vineyard used for the Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon is located on the northwestern slopes of the Sheep Mountain, at an altitude of about 270 and 300 m above sea level and only 5 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. Strong southeasterly winds help control growth and crop yield. Soils are of decomposed granitic origin with fine sand/loam topsoil and medium sized stones, which aid in both drainage and moisture retention. Production was about 3 tons/ha.

At Waterkloof they are proud that we do not spray any chemical herbicides or pesticides in our vineyards. We produce our own compost and biodynamic preparations, which we then apply with our workhorses, as opposed to heavy tractors. These practices create loose soil with more life where the vines can spread their roots at will; absorb everything they need from our rich and complex earth. We believe that biodynamic farming and winemaking contribute to terroir-driven wines that are truly made in the vineyard.

They harvest according to taste and spend a lot of time in the vineyards to see how the flavors develop. The grapes are destemmed, sorted by hand and poured into wooden fermentors via gravity. The natural fermentation started spontaneously using the wild yeasts present on the fruit.

Punch downs (twice daily) were used during fermentation to ensure smooth and slow color and tannin extraction. The wines are left on the skins for 30 days to help integrate the tannins and stabilize the colour. The peels are separated from the juice via gravity flow. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged for 21 months in new (9%), second and third year French oaks.

This Circumstance is a distinctly cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux!) with prominent notes of red berries, balanced by a hint of cumin. The palate shows great focus with extraordinarily refined tannins and great length. This Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect companion for a variety of dishes, such as T-bone steak on the braai (barbecue) or slow-cooked lamb shanks.

FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this fine wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount.