Stellenrust Timeless Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc)

In winemaking, the emphasis often only falls on chemistry, technique, passion, and vineyards. So often the most important element of all is neglected: time. The Timeless is made in honor of this one element intrinsic to the success of any wine.

In the vineyards:
The grapes used for this wine are harvested from a combination of trellised Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc vines from the Helderberg, Bottelary, and Devon Valley areas.

In the cellar:
Grapes are picked between 24 and 25 Balling, crushed, and allowed to cold macerate for anything between 2 – 4 days. The juice is inoculated with French yeast strains and fermented on the skins for at least 14 – 20 days with periods of hotter fermentation (29°C) and periods of colder fermentation (20°C). This not only creates a larger extraction of fruit and tannin but also an array of flavors through different fermentation temperatures. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot partially finish malolactic fermentation in barrels and are matured separately on the fermentation lees for 18 months after which it is blended and allowed another 6 months of blended barrel maturation time.

Tasting notes: This wine offers a menthol fresh nose with the palate enriched with dark berries, cassis, some mint chocolate, and also a lingering finish with well-balanced tannins concentrating on the mid-palate.

Food pairing:
Can’t compliment anything better than a fillet of beef or rack of lamb – this is a wine not for the faint-hearted and not for faint food.