As the King of Grapes, you might think you know all of the places on the globe to find great Cabernet Sauvignon vines growing but my guess is that South Africa would be fairly far down on that list. Winemaker, Jose Conde , might just change that! He is the only winemaker to have been awarded the American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon more than once. In fact he has won it three times, twice for wine produced at his Stellenbosch Vineyard.
His vines are up to 22 years old and grow in decomposed granite soils though the variation in the four different vineyard blocks give nuances to the grapes and resulting juice. He employs traditional methods like open tank fermentation, basket pressing and maturation in small French oak barrels. The wines are bottles unfined and unfiltered after 22 months in the barrel.
On a recent balmy evening, one where not sitting on the porch swing might have been considered a sin, we opened a bottle of the 2011 Stark-Conde Cabernet Sauvignon to share as we enjoyed the activity in our neighborhood after a too-long, too-cold winter. We let it open up a bit before pouring, trying to be patient for 90 minutes or so, and the wait rewarded us handsomely! The wine is fresh and velvety, yet remained light on the palate with predominantly big black raspberry flavors. And to me nothing says summer like fresh-picked berries! As the night progressed and we lingered over the wine, even more layers were revealed - deeper currant and mild tobacco, both entirely enjoyable.
At just $22.95 a bottle and 92 points from Wine Spectator, the 2011 Stark-Conde Cabernet Sauvignon is truly an amazing value - at this price, you can serve it to family and friends all summer long. I would love it with a great steak or burger off the grill so think of it for your cookouts and parties, too. We have it in stock and ready for your table or cellar - but don't wait! Now that South Africa has been discovered on the world winemaking map, it won't last long.