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For the last 15 years at least, Hemel-en-Aarde has been a very important region for defining how the wine-loving world sees South Africa. It’s superlative Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays – from producers like Crystallum, Newton Johnson, Storm Wines, Bouchard Finlayson and Creation have shown that the supposedly warm Mediterranean region at the toe end of Africa can produce more than just big, Balshy reds, and a few Chenin Blancs. But the Hemel-en-Aarde’s embrace of Burgundy cultivars has almost come at the expense of the credibility of some of the other cultivars that are flourishing in the valley. Cabernet Sauvignon being amongst them.

In this video, we look at why Cabernet in Hemel-en-Aarde makes sense, and we also dig a little deeper into the making of this wine.

If you have yet to sign up for your Monthly HanDrinksSolo Wine Subscription then you’ll have to hunt this wine down in your own time. But until then, here are my tasting notes and some technical specs:

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👃🏼 The vanguard carries exquisite notes of cellar dust, tobacco leaf, cedar wood, bell pepper, dried roses, cassis, and roasted plum.

👄 The palate is gloriously savoury, with rich blackcurrant, cinnamon spice, juicy black cherry acidity, and hints of mint. It’s all very classy.

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🔬wine of origin Walker Bay. Fruit sourced from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Vineyards are 350m above sea level. Wine was matured for 24 months in a combination of new oak (30%), with 70% in second-fill and third fill barrels.