Aaldering Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020 Devon Valley, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Aaldering launched its first reds in 2010, and this Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend is the estate at its most classical. The Devon Valley farm sits on decomposed granite that suits Bordeaux varieties well, and winemaker Jaco Parson leans on patient barrel work rather than heavy handling to shape the wine.

The Cabernet is estate-grown from vines planted in 1998, southeast-facing at 110 to 150 metres, blended roughly 58 to 42 with Merlot from nearby Devon Valley. The Merlot fills out the middle while Cabernet gives backbone and grip. It is the estate’s flagship red pairing, meant to reward a few years in the cellar.

2020 is widely rated one of South Africa’s better recent vintages, and Aaldering’s own notes point to a cool growing season that helped tannins, flavour and colour ripen steadily. Smaller than usual berries aided concentration and extraction, giving a red with both depth and balance rather than sheer power.

Deep red with a garnet rim. Blackcurrant, mulberry and raspberry lead the nose, backed by lead pencil, cigar box, roasted coffee, dark chocolate and warm spice. The palate is full-bodied with tight, linear tannins and well-judged acidity, the Merlot adding depth through the middle. Matured 20 months in French oak, it will keep for many years.

The SA Wine Index awarded the 2020 a Platinum rating of 95 or more points. In style it recalls a structured Stellenbosch claret, closer to Bordeaux than to a plush New World blend. Decant it for roast lamb, venison, duck breast or a beef dinner, and it will hold its own on any special occasion.