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 2006 marked the 60th anniversary of the Steytler family on Kaapzicht Estate. Danie is the 3rd generation and has 34 vintages of winemaking behind him. After completing a National Diploma in Agriculture in Pretoria, Danie returned to Stellenbosch to further his studies in Botany and Agriculture.
Recognizing the huge potential of his farm, he started replanting mainly red cultivars,began bottling his first wines in 1984 and developed an ever growing international market.
He continuously strives to improve his vineyards and his wines, and his passion and efforts have been rewarded by numerous local and international awards.
The highlights of his career have been receiving four 5-Stars in John Platter, winning the KWV International Trophy for best Pinotage, as well as the coveted Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Trophy for Best Red Blend (IWSC) and the Decanter Trophy for Best South African Blend (both for his Cape Blend “Steytler Vision”).
In 2009 his flagship Pinotage won the Decanter Regional Trophy for South Africa’s Best Single Red Varietal above £ 10 and went on to win the Decanter International Trophy for Best Single Red Varietal in the world - the first time ever that South Africa’s Pinotage has been honoured in such a way.
Danie lives for creating the perfect wine, “ the way he likes to drink it himself”, a platform from which his son, Danie junior and winemaker in 4th generation, can take his “Vision” and carry it into the future.
| Auction Wines |
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| Kaapzicht Auction Reserve 2000 |
This young and complex wine has a dark and regal ruby colour with layers of sweet blackcurrant, mulberry, cherry, chocolate fruit and traces of lovely spicy oak on the nose. The texture is smooth and silky; the wine is rich in flavour with some gaminess on the long, full finish. |
| Auction Year: 2002 |
| Kaapzicht Auction Reserve 2001 |
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Pinotage, 10% Merlot - The three cultivars were vinified separately in stainless steel red wine tanks. Pumping over was done at regular intervals. After malolactic fermentation, the wine went to new French oak barrels for 19 months. Tasting note: Young and complex. A dark regal ruby colour. Layers of sweet blackcurrant, mulberry, cherry and chocolate fruit with a lovely spicy oak. The texture is smooth and silky with a long full finish. Rich in flavour, showing a little gaminess on the finish. |
| Auction Year: 2003 |
| Kaapzicht Auction Reserve 2001 |
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Pinotage, 10% Merlot. The three cultivars were vinified separately in stainless steel red wine tanks. Pumping over was done at regular intervals. After malolactic fermentation, the wine went to new French oak barrels for 19 months. 50 cases of this wine were sold at the 2003 auction. Tasting note: Young and complex. A dark regal ruby colour. Layers of sweet blackcurrant, mulberry, cherry and chocolate fruit with lovely spicy oak. The texture is smooth and silky with a long, full finish. Rich in flavour, showing a little gaminess in the finish. |
| Auction Year: 2004 |
| Kaapzicht Auction Reserve 2003 |
Three cultivars made separately and matured separately in new French oak barrels from three different coopers for 20 months before being blended and bottled on the Estate. Tasting Note: “Exuberance” is the word here: from the deep-ruby hues that dominate this mulberry-coloured blend, through to the nose and palate that display, each in its own way, the hallmarks of a great wine. The nose is cedar and sweet vanilla, followed by a rush of ripe, dark berry-fruit in profusion. The palate shows balance and harmony within its very elegant structure. A beautifully proportioned wine; tightly and neatly packed to provide great drinking pleasure. |
| Auction Year: 2005 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot Auction Reserve 2007 |
The cultivars were vinified separately in red wine fermentors. Pump overs were done 3 times a day. The cultivars were matured separately in French oak for 24 months before being blended together.
Tasting note: Dense, plum coloured with a brick red rim. The nose shows subtle berries with prominent red cherry fruit and a hint of fragrant violet. The palate is in complete harmony with
softly-rounded dark berry fruit, fleshy and full in body. Well integrated oak has lent some attractive cigar box touches to the wine and helped the tannins to softness and approachability. |
| Auction Year: 2010 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 |
Made from a single vineyard situated on the highest point of the farm. Oak matured for 22 months. 50 cases were sold at the 2006 Auction
Tasting Notes:
Dense, plum-coloured Cabernet with a youthful pink rim. The nose shows subtle berries with prominent red cherry fruit, touches of Cabernet grassiness, and a hint of fragrant violet. The oak is very much a supporting act to centre-stage fruit. The palate is in complete harmony with softly rounded dark berry fruit, fleshy and full in body. Well integrated oak has lent some attractive cigar box touches and helped tannins to soft softness and approachability.
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| Auction Year: 2007 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2003 |
Made from a single vineyard situated on the highest point of the farm. Oak matured for 22 months.
Tasting Note:
Dense, plum-coloured Cabernet with a youthful pink rim. The nose shows subtle berries with prominent red cherry fruit, touches of Cabernet grassiness, and a hint of fragrant violet. The oak is very much a supporting act to centre-stage fruit. The palate is in complete harmony with softly-rounded dark-berry fruit, fleshy and full in body. Well-integrated oak has lent some attractive cigar box touches and helped tannins to softness and approachability.
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| Auction Year: 2006 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Auction Reserve 2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Merlot 20%
The two cultivars were vinified and separately matured in small, 100% new French oak barrels for 24 months before being blended together.
60 cases of this wine were sold at the 2010 Auction.
Tasting note: Very deep, saturated ruby colour with opaque depth in the centre; beautifully crafted with subtle berry tones and spiced dark fruit flavours firmly held by supple tannin structure. Seamless integration between plum / cassis fruit and cedary-oak tones; poised and elegant with enough power to richly reward cellaring for 5-8 years.
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| Auction Year: 2011 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001 |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon - The grapes were vinified in red wine fermentors, doing pump-overs at regular intervals. After malolactic fermentation, the wine went into French oak barrels for 19 months. Tasting note: The wine has an excellent colour concentration of dense ruby red. Perfumed nose of fresh blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, enveloped in spicy new French oak. Voluptuous melange of ripe fruit flavours in a cloak of oak and soft, ripe, tannins augur well for ageing. |
| Auction Year: 2003 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001 |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were vinified in red wine fermentors doing pump-overs at regular intervals. After malolactic fermentation, the wine went into French oak barrels for 19 months. 50 cases of this wine were sold at the 2003 auction. Tasting note: The wine has an excellent colour concentration of dense ruby red. Perfumed nose of fresh blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, enveloped in spicy new French oak. Voluptuous melange of ripe fruit flavours in a cloak of oak and soft, ripe, tannins augur well for ageing.
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| Auction Year: 2004 |
| Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2002 |
Made in stainless steel fermenters with continuous pumpovers during peak fermentation. Two sets of new barrels were used for wood maturation, with the first set used for 18 months, with one racking after 9 months. The wine was then matured in the second set of barrels for 15 months. Tasting Note: Brilliant mid to deep ruby, the rim paling and showing a garnet tinge. A Cabernet that shows all the textbook ripe berry qualities: blackberry, bramble fruit characters fleshed out with mulberry, this wine shows elegant restraint with tapered mineral tones. The oak is scented rather than sweet, showing cedar and sandalwood, and although still immature, aromas suggest pencil lead and tobacco leaf. The palate is packed with cassis fruit, mineral flintiness and top-quality wood. |
| Auction Year: 2005 |
| Kaapzicht Cape Blend 2009 |
The two cultivars were vinified separately and the best tanks went to new French oak barrels for 24 months. The best barrels were then selected for the blend. Tasting Notes: Very intense dark ruby with a brooding, black centre. Massively structured with powerful tannins and serious, richly fruited layers. Superbly crafted with plush dark fruit and a tightly knit structure, boding well for long maturation, the treasures to be revealed over the next
4-6 years and beyond. |
| Auction Year: 2012 |
| Kaapzicht Cape Blend Auction Reserve 2005 |
The three cultivars were vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels separately. They were blended together after 22 months in French oak.
Tasting Notes
Very dense dark ruby with a brooding, black centre; massively structured with powerful tannins and serious oak treatment harmoniously woven into a tapestry of richly fruited layers. Superbly crafted with plush dark fruit and tightly knit structure boding well for a long life. A long focused finish presently only hinting at the treasures to be revealed over the next 4 to 6 years and beyond.
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| Auction Year: 2007 |
| Kaapzicht Cape Blend Auction Reserve 2006 |
The three cultivars were vinified separately and the best tanks went to new French oak barrels for 24 months. Barrels from three different coopers were used. The best barrels were then selected for the blend.
Tasting note:
Very intense dark ruby with a brooding, black centre: massively structured with powerful tannins and serious oak treatment harmoniously woven into a tapestry of richly fruited layers. Superbly crafted with plush dark fruit and a tightly knit structure boding well for long life. A long focused finish, presently only hinting at the treasures to be revealed over the next 4-6 years and beyond.
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| Auction Year: 2008 |
| Kaapzicht Cape Blend Auction Reserve 2006 |
Winemaking Notes
The three cultivars were vinified separately and the best tanks went to new French oak barrels for 24 months. Danie personally selected the best barrels to make up this blend.
Tasting Notes
Very intense dark ruby with a brooding, black centre massively structured with powerful tannins and serious oak treatment harmoniously woven into a tapestry of richly fruited layers. Superbly crafted with plush dark fruit and a tightly knit structure boding well for long life. A long focused finish, presently only hinting at the treasures to be revealed over the next 3-5 years and beyond.
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| Auction Year: 2009 |
| Kaapzicht Cape Blend Auction Reserve 2007 |
The three cultivars were vinified separately and the best tanks went to new French oak barrels for 24 months. The best barrels were then selected for the blend.
Tasting note: Very intense dark ruby with a brooding, black centre: massively structured with powerful tannins and a series of richly fruited layers. Superbly crafted with plush dark fruit and a tightly knit structure boding well for cellaring – allowing the wine’s treasures to be revealed over the next 4-6 years and beyond. |
| Auction Year: 2010 |
| Kaapzicht CWG Pinotage Reserve 2007 |
Pinotage 86%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%
The grapes were picked at full ripeness (25,8° balling), fermented in stainless steel tanks and pumped over 3-4 times a day. After a light pressing, the Pinotage underwent malolactic fermentation before going into 100 % new French oak barrels for 24 months.
Tasting note: Saturated plum colour with purply black, opaque heart; focused Pinotage expression with intense layers of brooding black fruit and opulent oak, woven into a rich tapestry of flavour. Muscular tannins add depth and balance to plush fruit. Firm structure and rich texture will evolve beautifully with some 5 - 8 years cellaring.
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| Auction Year: 2011 |
| Kaapzicht Pinotage Reserve 2003 |
Made from a 36 year old, single vineyard. In oak for 22 months.
Tasting Note:
The wine is blue-red, indeed carmine, with a vibrant purple tinge. Hugely structured, it displays a nose of plump berry fruit with a concentrated herb focus. The palate is in similar style with layers of fruitiness that only Pinotage can deliver with such generous abandon. Warm and sturdy, and with infinite finesse, it is a mouthful of juicy red plums in a spiced redcurrant jus.
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| Auction Year: 2006 |
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