A silky red with light spicy aromas and lovely depth of flavour with layers of red and dark fruit on the palate due to the inclusion of four different grapes in the blend of this wine. Three French grapes lead the way with Shiraz 56%, Grenache 17% and Cinsault 17%, all supported here by the dark deep flavours of Portugal's Tinta Barocca which contributes 10%. 

A portion of foot stomping helps to extract colour and juice prior to fermentation.
Ageing is in older, larger 4000 litre oak for 16 months.

From the winery...
The 2014 AA Badenhorst is our ninth release of this appellation wine. The wine has the potential to age very gracefully for the next decade or so. The tannins are prominent and well integrated and refreshing as a number of the parcels were picked quite early. The aromas are more upfront than normal with complex notes of pepper, liquorice, perfume and black cherries. The palate entry is quite dense with lavender and dark berry fruit. The finish is dry with well spread tannins ending with savoury and currant flavours.

The Kaapzicht (Cape View) Wine Estate covers 174 hectares in the Bottelary Ward in the world-famous Stellenbosch district of South Africa. The vineyards stretch over predominantly north-facing slopes on fertile granite soils with a climate that favours the cultivation of quality wine grapes.

This wine is made using fruit from old bush vines planted in weathered granite topsoil and crumbly clay sub-soil, with a yield of up to 4 tons per hectare. Some of the fruit coming from a vineyard planted in 1947 (second oldest Chenin in the country).

Made reductively. Grapes were harvested during early morning hours in cool temperatures and were given ± 8-10 hours skin contact. Enzymes were used to help extract flavours while on the skins. Wine lay on the lees for 3 months before being racked, cleaned & bottled.

Tasting Notes
Ripe quince, pineapple and stone fruit with some interesting savoury undertones. Lightly textured palate, with a hint of sweetness and balancing crunchy acid, results in a brisk finish.

WHAT'S THE STORY? The Coterie wines draw upon a convergence of Wildeberg's tiny production pool of identified vineyards. Made with Wildeberg's cornerstone philosophies of minimal intervention winemaking, wild ferment and coarse filtration to capture the essence of the source vineyards and soils. 

PRODUCTION Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 20 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm. 

TASTING NOTE In many ways, the 2024 vintage showcases this wine perfectly and demonstrates why these 2 grape varieties partner so harmoniously. Smaller berries produced a very intense and concentrated Malbec portion, brimming with rich, ripe dark-fruit character. The Cabernet Franc provided the perfect foil, with bright cherry fruit and black pepper spice, and the end result is a drinkable blend delivering a powerfil wine with the Wildeberg hallmarks of balance and fine, carefully considered acidity. 

FOOD MATCH Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes. 

68% Cabernet Franc | 32% Malbec ALC: 14%   |   R/S: 1.9 (g/l)   |   TA: 5.9 (g/l)   |   PH: 3.41

Ripe and supple Grenache from Paarl blends seamlessly with the elegant and spicy berry fruit of Franschhoek Syrah.

PRODUCTION Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is handharvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 8 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm.

TASTING NOTE A warm, spicy nose with freshly cracked black pepper, allspice and ripe plum. Good concentration of sappy red berry and dark fruits are balanced by fresh acidity. The varietal characters of each cultivar complement each other well in this subtle and fragrant Coastal Region compote.

FOOD MATCH Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes.

Grapes for this wine were carefully hand-harvested and sorted. Most of the fruit comes from Paarl, but we added a small amount of Franschhoek fruit to the final blend to give it a bit of spice and ‘edge’. Naturally fermented in stainless steel tanks, 50% of this blend then undergoes malolactic fermentation in 300 and 600 litre French oak barrels (10% of which are new).

Inviting aromas of summer pudding, ripe black cherry, vanilla, and even a touch of Framboise. On the palate, more rich black fruits, smoky notes and a suggestion of dark chocolate and star anise. Youthful acidity and ripe balanced tannins give a fresh finish with depth and complexity.

Braai (South African BBQ) is the most obvious choice but this is a really versatile wine that works well with most meats, mushrooms dishes or just on its own.

If you love a cheeky little Cotes du Rhone, try this sensational South African lookalike, made from Syrah and Cinsault in a 60% / 40% blend here, which is a nod to the  French classics. 

Fermentation was in a combination of 70% / 30% stainless steel and 500 litre French oak, all with wild yeasts. This builds structure and texture into this full bodied, smooth, soft wine with its flavours of summer berries, cherries and plums. It's all here in complex layers and will age as well as drinking impressively now.

Complex, savoury Pinotage from South Africa (home to this quirky red grape variety). This wine has red fruit flavours, savoury earthy notes and a charred taste on the finish. 

This wine shows inviting aromas of juicy black fruit, mulberries, plums and hints of warm spice. After spending 18 months in barrel, the palate is soft and juicy with well rounded tannins and a long, delicious finish.

South Africa makes some great wines and this new Cabernet is not to be missed. Full bodied, dry, rich and dark; just like the world's best expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Kaapzicht is a fourth generation winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The winery was founded in 1946.