Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2021 Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Cabernet Franc is one of Ridgeback’s signatures, a grape the northern Paarl estate has quietly made its own. Where many Cape producers fold it into blends, here it stands alone, treated as the star it can be in the right site and the right hands.

Made entirely from Cabernet Franc, the fruit is picked to catch the variety’s lift and its savoury, herbal edge rather than to chase weight. Around a third is fermented as whole berries, and fifteen months in French oak, some of it new, adds frame without masking the perfume. It is a wine of detail rather than sheer power.

2021 was a standout South African vintage, cooler and later than usual, with a long, gentle ripening that preserved aromatics and acidity beautifully. For a grape like Cabernet Franc, whose charm lies in its freshness and fragrance, that slow season was close to perfect, and it shows in the wine’s lift and precision.

Blackcurrant leads the nose, lifted by the variety’s classic green peppercorn and black olive. The palate is elegant and ripe, its tannins fine, gentle oak spice giving way to a long, mineral finish. This is a wine of freshness and finesse rather than force. Drinking well now, it will hold for several years. Serve it with duck, quail or roast veal.

Cabernet Franc has a devoted following, and a varietal example this well made is worth seeking out. If you enjoy a Loire red like Chinon or Bourgueil, or a fragrant, savoury style of Cabernet, this belongs on your table. A wine for a good dinner and easy conversation, and one to pour with quiet confidence.