“A Classy Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Showing The Rebirth of Saxenburg…”
Introducing the Saxenburg Private Collection Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 vintage:
A Word from our Proprietor, Fiona Buhrer:
The Private Collection Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 has been an integral part of the Saxenburg journey under our family’s patronage, and it has been an exciting and humbling journey. Over the last years, we have been focused on giving this wine a new identity. For years it was the grey eminence at Saxenburg, dutifully falling in line behind the Syrah. In the 2000s it was a veritable powerhouse and as relevant as a wine could be, and it’s this relevance we are looking to bring back for this wine.
Only this time, we took a top-down approach to build its identity. What does it mean to be a South African Cabernet Sauvignon, better yet a Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, or more appropriately, a Polkadraai Hills Cabernet Sauvignon? The Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a Saxenburg Cabernet Sauvignon. It marks the beginning of a new chapter, where identity is once again terroir, and celebration of authenticity and experience. As a result, we jumped two vintages and released the 2020, after our 2017 recently sold out. The Saxenburg Private Collection wines have always benefited from time in bottle, but that notion has started to change as the 2020 already displays an intriguing complexity and approachability typical to that of an older vintage.
At Saxenburg we live by the philosophy to create Saxenburg moments. We think that life is all about the moment we create for ourselves. Like a good meal, great moments are best accompanied, or usually provoked, by a glass of wine.
With this in mind, we sent out our Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 to the highly esteemed Sommelier, Miguel Chan, to find out what his thoughts were on our new vintage.
A Word from Miguel Chan, Sommelier:
Saxenburg (in my honest opinion) have always been overshadowed by their Shiraz Select over the years even back in the days, here I am referring to the mid 1990’s to the early 2000’s when Saxenburg were one of the most sought after South African wine brands across HORECA overseas.
I remember my time at the beginning of my hospitality career in Mauritius Between 1997 and 2002 when all the hotels I worked back home, Saxenburg was one of the sought after South African wines and best-selling Stellenbosch Wines on the winelist, across many Resorts and across the range, including their Guinea Fowl, their Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon was a solid Stellenbosch offering.
Fast forward to 2022, sees the ‘renaissance’ of Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes sense as Stellenbosch is the hot bed for some of the finest expression of the variety in the Southern Hemisphere and without a doubt South Africa’s textbook Cab Sav territory.
2020 sees the Cabernet fruits sourced from predominantly a single Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch vineyard on some decomposed granite and some ‘koffieklip’ fragments on the Estate, soupcon of bush vine grown Cabernet Franc (4%) & Malbec (2%) as ‘salt & pepper’ complexity and perfume. 18 months in oak of which 20% were new. Classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, pure, textbook ripe cassis, black currants and blueberries, hints of pyrazine especially on day 2 more prominent, spicy touch of oak lending subtle touch of graphite, cedar, and tobacco.
Delicate entry yet with noticeable ripe tannin structure, fine and integrated well supported by ample generosity of fruits concentration makes this red wine appealing already now yet have the stamina to hold up to 2032+.
Precise freshness makes the 2020 Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon a pleasure to drink on its own yet have the cut to be paired with a rare flame grilled rib eye beef and chimichurri sauce, alternatively a Bearnaise or green peppercorn sauce will work better in the cooler months ahead as an accompanying sauce.
As a quality oriented Polkadraai Hills winery, can only be exciting for the future and in many ways nostalgic for many wine drinkers of the mid 1990’s. Seek it out to add value to your Private wine collections and impress your Cabernet Sauvignon loving friends.