Boschkloof Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot, Stellenbosch, South Africa '22

Stellenbosch is perhaps not quite as famous as other regions also known for making wines with Bordeaux varieties, yet it easily merits a place among them. Boschkloof, a second-generation wine estate, was founded in 1996 by Jacques Borman. Today, his son Reenen is at the helm. The estate is named after the natural ravine, or kloof, on the farm, and the land includes rolling hills and mountain backdrops. The original vineyards on the farm were planted mostly to Cape Riesling, but Jacques decided to remove it and plant better-suited cultivars, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The Boschkloof estate is in the Polkadraai Hills, a small range of granitic slopes about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from False Bay. The vines benefit from the maritime influence, as they are cooled by ocean breezes that balance the heat from an abundance of sunshine. Organic viticulture is practiced at the estate.
 
The 2022 bottling is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (74%) and Merlot (26%), from vines with an average age of 28 years. The grapes for this wine were harvested manually, and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were fermented separately with house-cultured yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The juice macerated on the skins for 12 days, with pump-overs carried out twice daily to gently extract color, tannins, and flavor. The wine was then aged for 12 months in second-fill French barriques (225 liters). After élevage, the final blend was assembled and racked to tank before bottling. 
 
The nose shows fresh blackberry, cassis, and plum, along with violets, herbs, toasted brown spices, and mocha. On the palate, the wine is medium-plus in body, with crisp acidity, supple tannins, and a long, plush finish. Buy this by the case for all your Sunday Bears watching parties!