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Along with their Paul Sauer, the Kanonkop Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is recognized as one of the Cape’s best red wines, with both having a track record of being able to age magnificently. Kanonkop always hold back their Cabernet release for a year after they release their Paul Sauer from the same vintage, to give their Estate Cabernet that extra bottle age to un-clinch and soften it up For those who have the patience to age them, the rewards are well worth the effort.
The 2015 vintage was heralded as one of the best vintages in history for the Cape, with Cabernet based wines in particular gaining high praise. To illustrate, the 2015 Paul Sauer was given a 100 pt review by Tim Atkin MW and the word among critics in South Africa was that the 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon may actually be a better bottle of wine. To some this may be splitting hairs because both wines are monumental in their own right and now with time in bottle the wines are starting to give a glimpse of their true quality.
The 2015 Paul Sauer may be sold out but we have been able to procure some of the 2015 Estate Cabernet and it is truly an exceptional bottle of wine, that in true Kanonkop fashion, still has a good many years of great drinking in front of it. It is just now starting to open up and showcase its true potential.The best part of the deal is that the wine has been aged for you and more importantly, where are you going to find this type of quality for the asking price of $49.99 a bottle? .
As a side note, having worked on a bottle for 3 days all we can say is that it’s still a baby with years to go, but drinking magnificently, seamlessly balanced with vibrant fruit to the core and a finish that seemed to go on for minutes. This is an exceptional bottle of wine with pedigree and poise that is not to be missed. If you love top-shelf Cabernet this is pretty much a no brainer. Kudos to Kanonkop.
$49.99
97 pts Greg Sherwood MW May 2019
A wine with this level of anticipation needs time and consideration. This wine was opened and tasted several times over a matter of hours and my conclusions were all the same. We are in the presence of greatness, a creation that is an absolute thing of vinous beauty that is certainly unrivalled in quality since the famous 2004 Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon that controversially trumped the Paul Sauer 2004 to win the Platter Red Wine of the Year. At this super youthful stage of its development, this wine is all about the future potential and not many other South African red wines have the track record that Kanonkop has. From the block buster 2015 vintage, the newly bottled Cabernet Sauvignon reveals an incredibly restrained and self assured bouquet of black raspberries, fallen leaves, wet tobacco, freshly tilled earth and a tantalising note of graphite, Chinese black tea, dried violets and cigar box. Despite its intensity in the mouth, the wine retains a classy and classical textural demeanour with a medium bodied weight but also silky smooth sweet tannins and layer upon layer of crunchy red and black fruits. Incredibly finely proportioned and crisply chiselled, the palate slowly shows extra dimensions of saline cassis, baking chocolate, espresso roast, sweet cedar spice and just the most subtle hints of red plum skins and thyme spice on the finish. Architecturally, this has the shape and precision of a majestic Sir Norman Foster sky scraper that towers above its neighbours. Never over worked, never over oaked, this is surely one of the greatest single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon’s produced in South Africa.
5 Stars 2020 Platter’s South African Wine Guide
A cape classic & consistent top performer in this guide; 5 stars (one of only 2) in the original edition, 15***** (95 pts) makes it 12 maximum ratings total. Refined & sensual rather than austere & cerebral, with forthcoming textbook cassis aromas/flavours, cedar seasoning, polished tannins from 2 years in 50% new oak. Like 14 (94 pts) & previous, has both immediate appeal & minimum 10 years cellaring potential.
94 pts Tim Atkin MW 2019
“In a great vintage, Cabernet can stand by itself,” according to Abrie Beeslaar, and 2015 is certainly up there with the very best of them. For people who missed out on my 100-point rated 2015 Paul Sauer, this gives you an indication of why the wine is so special. Scented, polished and youthful, with the structure and acidity to age well in bottle. 2021-32
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
24 months in 225L French Nevers oak barrels – 50% new and 50% second fill barrels.
A complex and serious wine showing layered aromas of cedar wood, blackcurrants, blue berries, tea leaves and graphite on the nose. Subtle oak
spice and savoury notes add further complexity. The palate is rich and full bodied, with pin-point balance between fruit and oak. The elegant and
refined tannin structure is supported by intense flavours of cassis, cured meat and tomato stew. A lingering finish completes a true Cape classic wine!
This wine will benefit from further bottle ageing for up to 20 years from vintage.
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