Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Kleine Zalze is an award-winning winery situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, just two miles from Stellenbosch. Winemaking has taken place on our estate on a small scale since 1695 but it was in 1996, when Kobus Basson and his family purchased the property, that the modern Kleine Zalze was born. Their philosophy is simple: success begins in the vineyards. Exceptional wines are made possible by selecting varieties and clones specifically suited to the various soils and slopes, and further careful management of their farm’s extensive natural assets.

All grapes were harvested early in the morning. Half of the wine was fermented in traditional open fermenters and the other half in stainless steel tanks. We used a combination of punch downs and pump overs and introduced a lot of oxygen into the fermenting wine. Tannins were extracted at the beginning of fermentation and finished with gentle and short 'pump overs' not to over extract the wine. Gravity was used to separate the wine from the skins after fermentation and went through malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in 300L French oak barrels for 12 months.

This Cabernet shows lots of red fruit and crushed herbs on the bouquet. The palate follows the ripe cranberries and just enough tannin to give the typical Cabernet 'backbone'. The juicy mid-palate leaves a mouthwatering impression.