Kleine Zalze Cabernet Sauvignon shines in the 2017 Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon report

Thursday, 15 June, 2017
Kleine Zalze Wines
From oaked to opulent styles to more fruit-driven reds, there’s a Kleine Zalze Cabernet Sauvignon for every palate. In particular, the Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which has a long history of illustrious awards; which include a Platter 5 star, International Wine and Spirits Competition Grand Gold, Double Gold Veritas and Tri-Nations Cabernet Challenge Trophy to name but a few.

Last month the results of the sixth annual Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report were released and it was the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 that was included in the top 15 wines.

2017 Prescient Cabernet Report
The sixth annual Cabernet Sauvignon Report founded by Christian Eedes of Winemag.co.za, and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient, involved putting together a line-up of 65 of South Africa’s most high-profile examples of Cabernet Sauvignon, either currently available or soon to be released.

The wines were then subjected to a panel blind tasting and scored on the 100-point quality scale.

The Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, scoring 91 points, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured in French oak barrels for 24 months. A beautiful wine that is very typical of the vintage. A rich bouquet of dark berries and cedar-wood give way to a full palate initially with waves of cassis and currants followed by a more savoury back palate. The fine grained tannin profile gives this wine great structure, yet without compromising Kleine Zalze’s signature elegance. A great example of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest!

April 2017 Decanter Magazine Top 35 New World Cabernet’s: 92 points
The Stellenbosch based Kleine Zalze was the only South African estate to be included in the top 10 of the prestigious Decanter Top 35 New World Cabernet Sauvignons under £40 with its Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. The authoritative magazine reaches wine lovers in 92 countries and has featured the world’s leading wine experts since the launch of the magazine in 1975.

This outstanding wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was matured in French oak barrels for 24 months. The massively built wine displays complex secondary aromas and a viscous, concentrated palate of chocolate and dried figs. The richness and power is reminiscent of an Amarone, and this luscious wine would excel with some mature hard cheese or beef stew.

This time it was the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 that was selected in Decanter Magazine’s Top12 Stellenbosch Cabernet’s. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was matured in French oak barrels for 24 months. The wine has a complex nose of red and black fruit, violets, hint of mint, liquorice and vanilla. Plenty of sweet fruit on the palate which is offset by fresh acidity, while the finish is gently savoury.

We are extremely pleased to see our wines right up there with the best at the prestigious Prescient and Decanter awards,” says Kleine Zalze owner and managing director Kobus Basson. “The recognition of the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet’s on these high profile lists demonstrates how Kleine Zalze over delivers on quality, which is our strategy abroad as much as it is at home here in South Africa”.

The Kleine Zalze Family Reserve is the flagship range, made from grapes selected from exceptional quality vineyard blocks. Only the best oak barrels are used for maturation and special attention is given throughout the wine making process. Family Reserve wines are available in limited quantities and are only produced in exceptional vintages.

Exciting replantings for more premium wines
Following an extensive analysis of vineyard blocks using state-of-the-art solar radiation and soil analysis to maximise the potential of the terroir, the viticultural team replanted 20 hectares of the estate’s prime vineyard sites. Specific clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Petit Verdot were selected for replanting, with a view to bolstering the flagship Family Reserve and premium Vineyard Selection offering.

We’re very lucky with our diverse terroir at Kleine Zalze, but in 2015 we went block by block over the entire farm, analysing slope, aspect, soils, daylight hours and solar radiation,” explains cellar master Alastair Rimmer. “On our own terroir we don’t want average. We want world-class.”

Kleine Zalze is situated in Strand Road (R44), Stellenbosch, South Africa. The estate offers a variety of attractions, including Kleine Zalze’s award-winning wines; the critically acclaimed Terroir gourmet restaurant of chef Michael Broughton; breath-taking hiking and cycling routes; the world-renowned De Zalze golf course; and, a luxurious four-star Cape Dutch style lodge.

For more information contact Anthony van Schalkwyk, Marketing Manager at Kleine Zalze via e-mail AvanSchalkwyk@kleinezalze.co.za or visit www.kleinezalze.co.za. The estate is also on Twitter and Facebook.

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Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - image courtesy of WineMag.co.za
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - image courtesy of WineMag.co.za

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