SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON: 20 WINES TO BUY
Cabernet Sauvignon is South Africa’s most widely planted red grape and third most-planted variety overall – 10,087ha were in the ground by the end of 2019, equivalent to 11% of the national vineyard. It has been around since the late part of the 19th century and traditionally made South Africa’s most prestigious reds. That said, one of the reasons it is so ubiquitous is because of how adaptable it is, retaining a recognisable character even when planted in less suitable locations.
It should also be noted that South Africa’s Cabernet Sauvignon plantings have decreased by 19.1% between 2009 and 2019; of the nation’s top 10 varieties, only Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage are more widely distributed than they were a decade ago.
While Cabernet Sauvignon is frequently blended with other varieties (many producers employing the Bordeaux template to good effect), it can stand alone triumphantly. One of the variety’s greatest attributes is its ability to mature gracefully, and South Africa is no different in this regard – the GS 1966 by George Spies and Nederburg’s 1974 (Decanter April 2019 issue) are the stuff of legend.
Stellenbosch is the district most closely associated with high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, and there are good reasons for this. Soils provide just the right amount of vigour in the vineyard canopy, while proximity to the ocean ensures moderate growing conditions: days that
