Tokara Stellenbosch
Premium Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a pleasure bomb of juicy red fruit, beautifully integrated oak, and great balance. It’s an authentically textbook Cabernet at a fair price! This is the kind of wine that catches you off guard. It is easy to forget how beautiful Cab Sauv can be in this style as it is a style so rarely executed well at this price (at least in my experience). I’m talking about the full bodied, early drinking, new world Cab Sauv. But here you have it, with none of the staves or gimmicks or additives. Cold soaked pre-fermentation, racked to open top oak foudres to ferment with indigenous yeast, then racked to 100% 225L French oak Barriques (20% new) to age for a total of nineteen months. On paper, you’d think this wine is twice the price. And it tastes like it.
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
Varietal/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%
Vineyard & Vine Age: Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.
Cellar: Hand-picked grapes were destemmed before passing across a sorting table for the removal of all unwanted material and then crushed directly into stainless steel tanks and wooden upright (foudre) fermenters. The must was cooled to between 10 and 15°C for a cold soak before fermentation started naturally with indigenous yeast. Pump-overs, délestage, and punching down of the cap are all used as best determined for ideal extraction, implemented twice a day until fermentation was complete. A discretionary post fermentation maceration is carried out depending on tannin extraction and development. The wine's then racked to french oak for MLF, after which it is again racked, sulphured, and put back to barrel. The wine ages for a total of nineteen months in 20% new French oak barriques, the remainder being older oak barriques. During maturation the wines receives two rackings. The wine receives a light fining and filtration before bottling.
CSPC: 124083
Winemakers Note: This wine has a beautiful bright claret colour. There are aromas of dark cherry, subtle cassis and blackberry on the nose complimented by underlying notes of dark chocolate and dried cranberry. The palate is packed with delicious dark fruit interwoven in spice and light toast notes from the barrels. A tannin profile reminiscent of silky dark chocolate with poised freshness round off the finish. This wine will drink well now but will also benefit from cellaring. Food pairing: Enjoy with lightly smoked Springbok carpaccio, grilled veal chops, braised meat dishes or a juicy steak.
What the Critics are saying:
2021 Vintage: "The archetype of sophistication: antique furniture, leather and cedar wood glides over the succulent red fruit backdrop with supple, lasting tannins and a tobacco whisper to end." 95, Decanter World Wine Awards
2022 Vintage: "The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Premium, which winemaker Stuart Botha describes as their 'calling card' wine, was matured in 20% new French oak for 19 months. There is no Petit Verdot in the blend this year. This has a perfumed and floral bouquet, with touches of wilted violets infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, opening with a hint of peppermint. A straightforward though nicely structured Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash of spice on the finish, this should offer several years of drinking pleasure." 89, Vinous ~ Neal Martin
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Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
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TECHNICAL INFO
Varietal/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%
Vineyard: Entirely from estate vineyards in Stellenbosch. Hand harvested at optimal ripeness. 5-9 tonnes per hectare yield.
Cellar: Hand-picked grapes were destemmed before passing across a sorting table for the removal of all unwanted material and then crushed directly into stainless steel tanks and wooden upright (foudre) fermenters. The must was cooled to between 10 and 15°C for a cold soak before fermentation started naturally with indigenous yeast. Pump-overs, délestage, and punching down of the cap are all used as best determined for ideal extraction, implemented twice a day until fermentation was complete. A discretionary post fermentation maceration is carried out depending on tannin extraction and development. The wine's then racked to french oak for MLF, after which it is again racked, sulphured, and put back to barrel. The wine ages for a total of nineteen months in 20% new French oak barriques, the remainder being older oak barriques. During maturation the wines receives two rackings. The wine receives a light fining and filtration before bottling.
CSPC: 124083
Winemakers Note: This wine has a beautiful bright claret colour. There are aromas of dark cherry, subtle cassis and blackberry on the nose complimented by underlying notes of dark chocolate and dried cranberry. The palate is packed with delicious dark fruit interwoven in spice and light toast notes from the barrels. A tannin profile reminiscent of silky dark chocolate with poised freshness round off the finish. This wine will drink well now but will also benefit from cellaring. Food pairing: Enjoy with lightly smoked Springbok carpaccio, grilled veal chops, braised meat dishes or a juicy steak.
What the Critics are saying: 2021 Vintage: "The archetype of sophistication: antique furniture, leather and cedar wood glides over the succulent red fruit backdrop with supple, lasting tannins and a tobacco whisper to end." 95, Decanter World Wine Awards
2022 Vintage: "The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Premium, which winemaker Stuart Botha describes as their 'calling card' wine, was matured in 20% new French oak for 19 months. There is no Petit Verdot in the blend this year. This has a perfumed and floral bouquet, with touches of wilted violets infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, opening with a hint of peppermint. A straightforward though nicely structured Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash of spice on the finish, this should offer several years of drinking pleasure." 89, Vinous ~ Neal Martin
Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South
T: 403-971-1898
E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca
Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North
T: 780-203-5284
E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca
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TECHNICAL INFO
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Appellation: Western Cape WO
Climate: Moderate Mediterranean
Altitude: 150-215m
Soils: Deep, red volcanic soil
Varietal/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.
Ageing: Aged in old oak puncheons.
Vineyard & Vine Age: Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.
ABV: 14.5%
Produced Cases: 50
CSPC: 124083
Calgary + Alberta South
Andrew Stewart
403-604-0408
andrew@vinoalvino.ca
Edmonton + Alberta North
Joe Gurba
780-203-5284
joe@vinoalvino.ca
Saskatoon + Saskatchewan South
Kerrie Gavin
306-290-0277
kerrie@vinoalvino.ca
