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Zonnebloem-Cabernet-Sauvignon.png

Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon | Stellenbosch, South Africa

£11.70

Zonnebloem offers a range of full-bodied wines that are well-structured to showcase varietal character with rich, robust flavours, yet remaining accessible and easy to drink.

This wine is made from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot with plenty of red fruit and oak exuberance.

One of South Africa's oldest wine brands, it dates from 1892 when Willem Malherbe inherited half of the family farm (established 1682) in Simondium, Paarl and names it Zonnebloem, meaning ‘Sunflower’.

The farm was bought and improved by Willem Daniel Furter, who’s sudden death saw his daughter take over. South Africa’s first female wine maker Marie Furter, aged 21, won 3 trophies in the 1940 Paarl Wine show. She taught her skills to the new owner and brother-in-law John de Villiers; but again became directly involved in winemaking upon his death in 1948. With her husband Maurice Close the farm was bought in 1956, but unable to justify the investment required for a new winery they focused on just growing grapes for local co-operatives. Marie died in 1988 and the farm was sold in 2003.

The female heritage continues today with production being run by an all-woman winemaking team. Cellar master Elize Coetzee started at the winery in 2005, Kelly-Marie Jacobs the white wine maker joined in 2016 and red winemaker Bonny van Niekerk has two decades of experience, including time in California.

Zonnebloem offers a range of full-bodied wines that are well-structured to showcase varietal character with rich, robust flavours, yet remaining accessible and easy to drink.

This wine is made from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot with plenty of red fruit and oak exuberance.

One of South Africa's oldest wine brands, it dates from 1892 when Willem Malherbe inherited half of the family farm (established 1682) in Simondium, Paarl and names it Zonnebloem, meaning ‘Sunflower’.

The farm was bought and improved by Willem Daniel Furter, who’s sudden death saw his daughter take over. South Africa’s first female wine maker Marie Furter, aged 21, won 3 trophies in the 1940 Paarl Wine show. She taught her skills to the new owner and brother-in-law John de Villiers; but again became directly involved in winemaking upon his death in 1948. With her husband Maurice Close the farm was bought in 1956, but unable to justify the investment required for a new winery they focused on just growing grapes for local co-operatives. Marie died in 1988 and the farm was sold in 2003.

The female heritage continues today with production being run by an all-woman winemaking team. Cellar master Elize Coetzee started at the winery in 2005, Kelly-Marie Jacobs the white wine maker joined in 2016 and red winemaker Bonny van Niekerk has two decades of experience, including time in California.

Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot

Tasting Notes: Intense deep red with elegant aromas of black berry fruit and oak spice. A full-bodied wine, bursting with ripe plum and black cherry flavours with cloves and vanilla spice. Seamless integration of fruit and tannins, creating a long lingering finish on the palate.

ABV: 13.5%

Vintage: 2024.

Attributes: Vegan, oaked

Closure: Cork

Vineyards & Terroir: Grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Devon Valley, Stellenbosch Kloof, Helderberg and Jonkershoek areas. Grown on slopes facing south and south-westerly directions to ensure cooler microclimates, the vineyards yielded an average of 8 to 10 tons per hectare.

Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes with fermentation on the skins for 8 to 10 days. A majority of the wine is matured in 300 litre medium toasted French and American oak barrels; the remaining portion was left to mature on French and American oak staves in stainless steel tanks.

Farming:

Sustainability info:

Ageing potential: 5 - 8 years

Food pairing suggestions: serve with roasts, grilled red meat dishes and savoury pastas.

Winery / Winemaker: Isabel Habets (Viticulturist); Elize Coetzee (Cellar Master) / Bonny van Niekerk (Winemaker)

Winery link:

Awards: