Velvety and precise, this Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon opens with brooding aromas of cassis leaf, flint, and charred cedar, layered with wild cherries and bramble. Juicy red and black fruits—plum, cherry, redcurrant—unfold across the palate, framed by polished tannins and a seam of fresh acidity that adds lift and structure. There's a graceful tension here: creamy vanilla and smoky oak soften the edges, while sappy depth and fine dryness build toward a long, mineral-laced finish. A wine that balances richness with vitality, crafted to captivate from first sip to final swirl.
Hand-harvested from nine Cabernet clones on the north-facing slopes of the Helderberg, our fruit benefits from gravel soils and Atlantic-cooled ripening. Each clone is vinified separately in concrete tanks or amphorae with gentle extraction to showcase pure varietal character. After fermentation, some batches undergo extended maceration, then age in oak and terracotta for depth, texture, and refined tannins.
Winemaker: Louis Strydom
Winemaker: Louis Strydom
Explore the wonderful and fascinating world of wine as seen and enjoyed by South African golfer Ernie Els. A stone’s throw away from Hidden Valley, wedged between monolithic granite boulders, is the ever impressive Ernie Els Winery. Ernie befittingly chose Stellenbosch, the noble heart of South African wine to base his operation.
