2020 Spier Cabernet Sauvignon Signature

The wine is deep ruby red in color. Broad fragrance, with cherries and cassis, berries, a hint of paprika, supported by a pleasant spicy note of oak and vanilla. In the taste a fresh and fairly powerful entry, with black currants, delicious vanilla, a hint of leather and laurel, elegant and fresh, firmness, acidity, bitters, cherries and currants. Ideal with grilled red meat, but also delicious with lamb cutlets or mature cheeses.

The roots of the house Spier go back to the early years of the colony on the Cape, in 1692. In that year the original farm in Stellenbosch was founded by the German settler Arnout Janz. He was also the one who realized that the soil was very suitable for viticulture, and planted the first vines. The first grapes were pressed and the old cellar, which was built in 1767, is one of the oldest wineries in the Cape. It is still the proud possession of the domain. Today, Spier is one of South Africa's most innovative wineries with a cellar that has been modernized and expanded in recent years to fulfill its grand ambitions. And in the same light we must see the expansion of the vineyard area, where the full control of a large team of experienced and talented winemakers is present under the leadership of the chief winemaker, Frans Smit.

The Cabernet needs a slightly warmer climate than the Merlot, and a soil that is slightly poorer, to allow the grapes to ripen well. Otherwise, the leaves will mainly grow and the grapes will not ripen sufficiently. In Cabernet-Sauvignon, good ripening of the grapes is only possible through good heat during the day, combined with freshness at night, especially in the autumn, in the period before the harvest. The grapes come from different vineyards, from which a blend is composed with many shades. After a cold soak, to give the wine fruit and color, it ferments at a low temperature, at 24°C, again for the fruit. During fermentation, the wine is regularly pumped over the skins to give it more color and ripe tannins. It is completed by maturing 20% in French oak barrels for about 8 to 10 months, depending on the vintage. This creates more depth and complexity. The rest of the wine is aged in stainless steel with French oak bars, which give it some extra wood aroma. Wood and fruit remain perfectly in balance.

The wines of the Spier Estate in Stellenbosch are produced organically which means that no fertilizers, chemical pesticides and no pesticides such as herbicides are used.