Kleine Zalze of Stellenbosch delivered a dominant performance at in year’s Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report, organised by online platform Winemag.co.za, with two of its wines achieving the Report’s two top ratings, including the overall winning wine.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 secured the top score of 95pts, while the Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 garnered 94pts.
Some 66 Cabernet Sauvignons were entered into this year’s Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report which was judged un-sighted by winemag.co.za editor Christian Eedes, wine-merchant James Pietersen and Francois Rautenbach, GM of Singita Premier Wine Direct.
RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze cellarmaster, says the accomplishments in this year’s Prescient Report underscores Kleine Zalze’s embracing of Cabernet Sauvignon as its core red variety in a diverse portfolio.
“As an established Stellenbosch cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon has always been at the heart of Kleine Zalze’s red wine offering as this is the red grape calling-card for the region,” says Botha. “This fact is underscored in this year’s Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report with nine of the ten top-scoring wines originating from Stellenbosch vineyards. With our overall winning Family Reserve Cabernet 2019 and the Vineyard Selection 2021 securing the second highest score, Kleine Zalze is proud to be recognised as one of the leading Cabernet Sauvignon producers from a region gaining recognition as one of the foremost exponents of this variety globally.”
Both the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve and Vineyard Selection were made from Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the Kleine Zalze property, complemented by parcels from various selected sites in Stellenbosch.
The top-scoring Family Reserve 2019 came from a season characterised by cool conditions during the latter stages of ripening, resulting in berries of intense concentration.
According to Botha, managing the extraction during fermentation is key in creating poise and balance in the final wines - both in the Family Reserve as well as the Vineyard Selection.
Kleine Zalze cellarmaster, RJ Botha
“We used a combination of punch-downs and pump-overs at different stages in fermentation and tried to extract a lot of flavour and tannin at the beginning of fermentation,” he says.“Towards the end of the process we drastically reduced the extraction and usually limit it to only one pump-over per day so as not to over extract and ensure we achieve the best balance. You want fruit to show, but good Cabernet also needs power and verve.”
After primary fermentation the grapes for the Family Reserve were gently pressed and transferred to 300L French oak barrels, 80% new and the remaining 20% a blend of 2nd and 3rd fill, for 18 months before final blending took place.
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 originated from a vintage characterised by cool spring conditions in the early growing season and late-ripening of fruit, resulting in the harvest commencing two weeks later than average. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels of which 40% were new wood, 30% second-fill and the balance third-fill) for 20 months before final blending.
For the complete results of the Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report, go to www.winemag.co.za