2019 Rustenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch

Winemaker Notes:  The 2019 Rustenberg Cabernet has some scale and size to it. Showing a dark, deep purple color the nose has classic Cabernet dark currant fruit tones with a floral lift and a touch of cedar and tobacco spice. Medium fuller to fuller bodied, this showcases good fruit concentration in the dark spectrum, while the tannins are noted, giving this a firm grip on the finish. With aeration the tannins soften a bit and harmonize with the fruit, which says that this should age nicely over the next 3-4 years quite easily. If you drink in the mid term please decant and have something with some fat content which will play off of the wine’s tannin base nicely. 

The 2019 vintage was a challenging one for the Rustenberg team. While the winter of 2018 was a welcome break from the previous four winters of drought, most vineyards had not fully recovered and produced below average yields. A warm snap in June and a wet Spring, coupled with a wetter than average Summer harvesting season made 2019 a challenge, with some late harvest thinning or multiple harvests of the same vineyard required to achieve uniformity. Early and mid-season ripening varieties performed well, all achieving flavour ripeness at lower alcohol levels, while late ripening varieties required patience and extended time on the vines, again achieving lower alcohols overall, but creating ripe, structured wines.