LANZERAC | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stellenbosch | 2018
cabernet sauvignon

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Today we are also going to review a single-varietal cabernet sauvignon wine from South Africa‘s famous Stellenbosch region – Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 2018 by Lanzerac Wine Estate. Dating back to 1692, Lanzerac Wine Estate is a historic landmark and a Stellenbosch icon winery, synonymous with old-world charm and indigenous Cape heritage. Positioned in the idyllic Jonkershoek Valley on the outskirts of the Stellenbosch town, the winery boasts views of magnificent mountain ranges and endless rows of vines that are shaded by giant oak trees. Cabernet Sauvignon is grown all over the world in a wide range of climates and regions and it can produce wines that are very high in tannins and acidity, that can mature and develop for many years in the bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon is also a late ripening grape variety, which means that it is best suited for warm climates, where it is capable to produce wines that can reach into realms of perfection, where they are rarely followed. The grapes for this classic cabernet sauvignon wine were sourced from four vineyard blocks (D2, J13, J14 and J15) of the Jonkershoek Valley vineyard, planted on 100-350 meters altitude above sea level, with mainly deep red, decomposed granite soils. The oldest block (D2) was 24 years old at the time of harvest, whilst the remaining blocks used (J13, J14 and J15) were 13 years old. In order to soften the tannins and add extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged for 18 months in new and used (2nd and 3rd fill), french oak barrels. But enough with all that theory, that said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: deep and opaque garnet color
clarity: hazy and noble garnet shades

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & earthy-savory
fruit profile: black fruits
__black fruits: blackcurrant | black plum | black cherry | blackberry | aronia berry
fruit character: ripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | earthy | savory
__spice: peppercorn | nutmeg | anise
__oak: sun-dried oakwood | black tea | oak tree bark | tobacco
__earthy: black soil | dust | pencil lead | quartz | gravel
primary layer: earthy & savory 

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: high
__grip: fine-grained
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: ample | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: black fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: earth & spice
finish: medium+
aftertaste: crisp

//Scoring
LANZERAC | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stellenbosch | 2018
variety: cabernet sauvignon
country: South Africa
region: Stellenbosch
rating: 93.7

//Conclusion
maturity: developing | age for 2 to 3 more years
verdict: great | a must try wine
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This is definitely a great wine of South Africa and, with a total of 93.7 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is an ample, round and crisp cabernet sauvignon wine with a rich nose and lush palate. The wine is still in its development phase but very close to its prime form, therefore we would recommend to either drink it today or within the next 2 or 3 years, as it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. On the nose the wine displays a mixture of ripe black fruit and some very nuanced, earthy-savory notes in the foreground, supported by a subtle, oaky and spicy background. On the palate the wine delivers bright acidity, fine-grained tannins and a well integrated alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, which leads to a appealingly crisp aftertaste. All in all this is a lean, lush and elegant cabernet sauvignon wine, with a plump and complex structure and an old-world, velvety-rustic profile, very similar in style to a french, terroir-oriented, velvety cabernet sauvignon. We believe this wine will pair lovely with delicate and rustic meats, rich in natural umami flavour, like for example a black angus filet mignon or a peppercorn filet mignon steak. Enjoy!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.