A Backsberg Estate Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon from the comet 2015 wine year has just been released, underscoring the Cape wine pundits’ belief that this is one of the best vintages to date. According to Alicia Rechner, Backsberg’s wine-maker, an almost perfect growing season allowed the longer-hanging grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon to take on exceptionally complex varietal flavours which extended through to the final wine.
“It was definitely one of the best red wine seasons I have experienced at Backsberg,” says Alicia. “2015 was a dry year with low Cabernet Sauvignon yields, giving small berries of incredible concentration with high extraction in the cellars.”
Backsberg’s Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are on sandy, clay soils planted at an elevation of 190m. During fermentation aerated pump-overs were done twice a day to assist in the gentle extraction of colour and tannins, after which the wine was aged for between 12 and 18 months in French oak, 25% of which was new.
The result is a wine with a bold structure and assertiveness on the mid-palate, exuding a dazzling array of black-fruit, fynbos and pine-needle flavours.
“Being such a noble variety, the approach to Cabernet Sauvignon is always going to be classical ,” says Alicia. “As part of South African’s Ground Zero for Cabernet – namely the Simonsberg – Backsberg will always hold this royal Bordeaux cultivar in high regard. Especially as it is part of the legacy Sydney Back founded when deciding to prove that South Africa was capable of making world-class wines.”
A bold, muscular wine, this Cabernet Sauvignon will age beautifully for between seven and 20 years. Enjoy with roast red meat, hearty stews or summery steak tartare.
Res sugar 2.8g/l
pH 3.56
TA 6.2
Alcohol 14.5%
Recommended retail price: R85