Kanonkop Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa
A wine that more than lives up to its reputation, this estate Cabernet from Kanonkop in South Africa is a tremendous flag-bearer for the quality of Bordeaux blends (or, as in this case, single varietals) in the Cape - and particularly in that iconic region Stellenbosch.
An exuberant nose that leaps from the glass and features cassis, fig, cinnamon, some garam masala and cigar box, with more than a gentle tug of graphite. A touch of tomato vine completes what is a very harmonious aroma - and quite an austere one at that. It was ten minutes before I took a sip.
The palate is even more giving, after a two hour decant, with incredibly concentrated flavours of red cherry, blackcurrant and plum, and a lovely undercurrent of dark chocolate and vanilla. This is seriously accomplished stuff, with more than enough backbone to age, and a very long finish. I would love to try this in ten years - even five - but only bought the one bottle so that’s a pipe dream. If this was the Médoc, you’d be thrilled. Truly, an astonishingly good wine.
96+
A wine that more than lives up to its reputation, this estate Cabernet from Kanonkop in South Africa is a tremendous flag-bearer for the quality of Bordeaux blends (or, as in this case, single varietals) in the Cape - and particularly in that iconic region Stellenbosch.
An exuberant nose that leaps from the glass and features cassis, fig, cinnamon, some garam masala and cigar box, with more than a gentle tug of graphite. A touch of tomato vine completes what is a very harmonious aroma - and quite an austere one at that. It was ten minutes before I took a sip.
The palate is even more giving, after a two hour decant, with incredibly concentrated flavours of red cherry, blackcurrant and plum, and a lovely undercurrent of dark chocolate and vanilla. This is seriously accomplished stuff, with more than enough backbone to age, and a very long finish. I would love to try this in ten years - even five - but only bought the one bottle so that’s a pipe dream. If this was the Médoc, you’d be thrilled. Truly, an astonishingly good wine.
96+
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of red plum, blackberry, gummy candy, spice drops, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cedar; dry, medium acid, high tannins, high alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; medium plus finish, very ripe flavors
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of red plum, blackberry, gummy candy, spice drops, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cedar; dry, medium acid, high tannins, high alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; medium plus finish, very ripe flavors
Feb 19th, 2020
Big, structured, primary. Very young.
Big, structured, primary. Very young.
Rich, deep black cherry Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice wine at a nice price.
Rich, deep black cherry Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice wine at a nice price.
Jun 11th, 2024