Rudera Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001

100% Cabernet Sauvignon – The fruit is from a single vineyard, on shale in the Koelenhof area. The vineyard is trellised on a four wire Perold system. Drip irrigation is available, to combine canopy management with stress management. Handpicked grapes were brought into the cellar on 27 February at 25,5? brix. The pH was 3.4, with a titratable acid of 7,6 g/l. Sorting was done in the vineyard, followed by berry selection in the cellar before crush. Our total production was 5,1 tons per hectare (35hl/ha) and only 86 x 6 x 750ml, plus 18 3-litre bottles were made. Tasting note: The wine started out opaque with a vivid, purple rim and then changed to a deep ruby wine, with wonderful intensity of colour. A nose of great depth, but at this stage, tight-knit. Allow a few minutes in the glass: a very attractive bouquet of violets and cedary, cigar box notes. The silky tannins are not apparent at first, the rich plummy, coffee palate seems chunky and big, but elegant at the same time. The long finish is firmed-up by very ripe tannins, culminating in a truly classic Cabernet.

Winemaker: Teddy Hall – Re…