Gabriëlskloof Cabernet Franc 2018

Located in the emerging Overberg region, Gabriëlskloof was founded by Bernhard Heyns in 2001 at a time when the land was just wheat fields and sheep. However, he saw huge potential in the region, buying a site which has grown to encompass over 60 hectares of vines. Innovative and precise winemaking is fundamental to the Gabriëlskloof philosophy, which is further reinforced by Bernhard’s son-in-law, Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum.

The 2018 vintage was a challenging one, with drought as the predominant factor leading to smaller yields. The yield for the Syrah on Shale block was down by 20% from 2017 to 2018. The dry weather throughout the season did have its advantages, though, as vines were healthy, with little or no pests and diseases and improved overall quality. The fruit comes from a single vineyard, mountainside site on the Gabriëlskloof property. The soil is a combination of Overberg Shale and Table Mountain Sandstone, with this complexity transferred into the wine through a lovely mix of fruit and spice. The vineyard is 16 years old, and this maturity shows in the depth and character of the wine.