Simonsig Labyrinth Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a Stellenbosch red that leans into purity, freshness, and a more polished expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. While it has the dark fruit profile and structure you would expect from the variety, it is the balance that stands out most here. This is a wine shaped as much by clarity and lift as it is by concentration, making it a compelling take on Stellenbosch Cabernet for drinkers who value both flavor and restraint.
In the glass, it shows a crimson color with a deep, dark core. Aromas of blackberry, crème de cassis, and violet rise first, followed by a palate built around fresh dark and red berries, with touches of milk chocolate and gentle oak toast. The tannins are fine and well-knit, working easily with the wine’s bright acidity to keep the fruit focused and the finish clean. It would pair especially well with grilled beef, roast lamb, mushroom dishes, or hard cheeses, where its fruit and structure can settle naturally into the meal.
Already highly enjoyable, this vintage has the fruit concentration and shape to drink well now while also rewarding a few years of further bottle age.
In the glass, it shows a crimson color with a deep, dark core. Aromas of blackberry, crème de cassis, and violet rise first, followed by a palate built around fresh dark and red berries, with touches of milk chocolate and gentle oak toast. The tannins are fine and well-knit, working easily with the wine’s bright acidity to keep the fruit focused and the finish clean. It would pair especially well with grilled beef, roast lamb, mushroom dishes, or hard cheeses, where its fruit and structure can settle naturally into the meal.
Already highly enjoyable, this vintage has the fruit concentration and shape to drink well now while also rewarding a few years of further bottle age.
The grapes, sourced from three Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, were picked between March 4th and March 25th, 2020. Careful vineyard sorting ensured that only the highest quality grapes reached the cellar. After a gentle destemming, the berries were hand-sorted before being pumped into the fermentation tank. The grape must underwent a two-day cold soak before being inoculated with a carefully selected yeast strain. During fermentation, pump-overs were carried out 2 to 4 times daily, adjusted based on the fermentation rate and stage. The wine spent 9 to 17 days on its skins before undergoing a gentle pressing. It was then racked into barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging, with a total of three rackings during the aging process. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels: 20% first-fill, 20% second-fill, 40% third-fill, 20% older oak, followed by an extra 4 months in older oak, totaling 18 months.
Winemaker: Michael Malan
Winemaker: Michael Malan
Simonsig Estate, named after its dramatic views of the Simonsberg Mountain, is ideally situated in Stellenbosch, South Africa's premier wine region, 45 km east of Cape Town.
