It was under the watch of legendary winemaker Beyers Truter that Kanonkop’s iconic wine, the Paul Sauer Bordeaux-style blend, was introduced, a wine generally regarded as South Africa’s finest red wine.
The first vintage was 1981, and naming the wine Paul Sauer after the farm’s patriarch was a given, as was the fact that the red blend would largely rely on Cabernet Sauvignon, with components of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The vineyards are a combination of dry-land and supplemental irrigation, with an average age of close to 30 years. Blending of the three different components takes place prior to barrel maturation to facilitate greater coherence between the parts.
The depth of flavour, structure and complexity offered by these three grape varieties is accentuated by 24 months’ ageing in new French oak. Blackcurrant notes combine with aromas of bouquet garni and cigar box to offer a regal wine recognised as one of the best South Africa has to offer.
