Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Proper Stellenbosch Cabernet – ripe blackberry and blackcurrant, pencil shavings and spice, with fine tannins and enough freshness to keep all that rich fruit beautifully balanced.

Waterkloof sits high on the slopes of the Schapenberg in Stellenbosch, overlooking False Bay. It's a pretty special place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, with the vineyards exposed to cooling winds coming in from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single, windswept vineyard block sitting around 270–300 metres above sea level and just two miles from the Atlantic.

That combination of altitude, sunshine and cooling coastal influence helps the grapes ripen slowly, producing Cabernet with plenty of concentration but also the freshness and acidity needed to keep everything in balance.

Yields are tiny at around four tonnes per hectare. The grapes are picked by hand and even transported back to the cellar by horse before being carefully sorted.

Fermentation happens naturally with wild yeasts in large open-top wooden fermenters. The wine spends 35 days on its skins before being transferred predominantly into older oak barriques, where it matures for around 20 months.

Why We Like It

This is exactly the sort of Cabernet Sauvignon we want on the shelves at The Strong Water Co.

There's loads of blackberry and blackcurrant, but it's not just about big ripe fruit. You'll also find pencil shavings, spice and more savoury notes, with fine tannins and fresh acidity giving everything some proper structure.

It's undoubtedly a full-bodied red, but it doesn't feel overdone. The Atlantic influence gives the wine a freshness that makes it much more elegant than some warmer-climate Cabernet.

If you're a fan of Bordeaux, Stellenbosch Cabernet, Napa Cabernet or proper structured red wines, this should be right up your street.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Ripe blackberry and blackcurrant with pencil shavings, spice and subtle savoury notes.

Palate: Rich and concentrated with succulent blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, fine tannins and plenty of structure. Despite the richness, fresh acidity keeps everything beautifully balanced.

Finish: Long and complex with lingering black fruit, spice and classic Cabernet savouriness.

Food Pairing

This wants a decent bit of meat alongside it. Try it with steak, roast beef, venison, lamb or anything coming off the barbecue.

Waterkloof recommends red meat cooked on the braai or crispy-skinned duck breast. We'd happily put it alongside a good Highland steak and call it an evening.

Product Details

• Producer: Waterkloof
• Wine: Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vintage: 2022
• Country: South Africa
• Region: Stellenbosch
• Appellation: WO Stellenbosch
• Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• ABV: 14%
• Bottle Size: 75cl
• Closure: Cork
• Winemaker: Nadia Langenegger
• Farming: Sustainable
• Suitable For: Vegans & Vegetarians
• Style: Full-bodied Red

Buy Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon Online

Buy Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 online from The Strong Water Co., independent wine merchants based in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.

We deliver wine throughout the UK, including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Whether you're ordering wine for delivery to Inverness, the Highlands, Skye, Orkney, Shetland or elsewhere across Scotland, you can order online for delivery direct to your door.

Local customers can also shop our wine range at The Strong Water Co. in Banchory and Ballater, in the heart of Royal Deeside.

ABV STRENGTH 14.0

BOTTLE SIZE 75cl

COUNTRY South Africa

GRAPE Cabernet Sauvignon

REGION Stellenbosch

STYLE Full-bodied

VINTAGE 2022