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Lovely Creatures

2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

Western Cape - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

The inaugural vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon is a monumental effort given the nominal price tag.  There is a lot of wine in this bottle.  Stephanie rang a friend to source the fruit located on the awe-inspiring slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch.  The vineyard was planted nearly 20-years-ago and due to the steep mountain slope is trained on trellising.  The soils are a clay-driven granitic mix that provides the power and intensity in the background of the wine.

The grapes were hand-harvested and fully destemmed before being gently crushed.  The grapes were fermented in small 1-2 ton lots with most of the ferments being carried out without inoculation.  After ten days on the skins the grapes were pressed to tank to settle overnight then racked to older French barriques for aging.  In the spring the wine was lightly sulfured and after a total of 12 months aging it was racked to blend and bottled without fining or filtration and just another small sulfur addition.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Vineyard: A single trellised site on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch
  • Vine Age: 18-years-old
  • Soil Type: Deep red decomposed granitic soils
  • Viticulture: Sustainable
  • Fermentation: Primarily Native – stainless-steel
  • Skin Contact: 10 days
  • Aging: 12 months in 3-5-year-old French barriques
  • Alcohol: 13.5%
  • pH: 3.71
  • Total Acidity: 5.3 g/L
  • Total SO2: 60 ppm
  • Total Production: 1,000 cases

Tasting Note

Lightly translucent violet.  The wine is alluring and revealing with aromas of blackberry, mulberry and plum skin with a backdrop of licorice, a hint of fresh sage and a light touch of graphite.  The palate is velvety in texture with bright fruit and ample acidity to keep the wine fresh balancing the ripe black fruit flavors.  The lightly grippy finish brings you back to the glass for another sip.  Reminiscent of older Napa and Bordeaux in many respects, albeit at a more ‘everyday’ price.

Producer


Lovely Creatures

Region


Western Cape

Country


South Africa