Delaire Graff, Stellenbosch, Cabernet Franc Rosé 2023

The grapes come from selected vineyards across Stellenbosch, with the majority grown on the magnificent Simonsberg and Helderberg mountain ranges. The vines have an average age of 14 years and are trellised on a five-wire Perold system, a form of a vertical trellis which helps to protect the vines from wind damage. The climate is Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers, which are mitigated by the cooling sea breezes from the Atlantic, resulting in a slower ripening process encouraging natural balancing acidity to balance the concentrated fruit flavours. The terroir is made up of Hutton leaf soils, which are derived from granite and have good physical and waterretention properties. The vineyards are cultivated sustainably and are certified by IPW. The grapes were hand-picked in the cool early hours of the morning to retain freshness.

After being destemmed and crushed, the grapes were gently pressed to ensure perfect colour and texture. Once settled, fermentation took place with selected yeasts to complement the flavours of Cabernet Franc. Left on fine lees with fortnightly stirring to develop palate weight, the final blend included a small portion of barrel-fermented rosé to add extra depth to the flavour profile.

Delaire Graff is a jewel in the Cape Winelands, located in the historic Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch. Originally a farm named Avontuur, the estate was purchased by the
well-known wine writer John Platter in 1982, who renamed it Delaire meaning ‘From the Sky’ due to the magnificent views. In 2003, Laurence Graff OBE acquired the estate and following a six-year redevelopment programme, he transformed the estate into Delaire Graff: an iconic producer of world-class wines and a luxury boutique estate. The
meticulous efforts of the teams under the guidance of viticulturist Kallie Fernhout and winemaker Morné Vrey skilfully craft their award-winning wines from the unique terroir on the crest of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass. The grapes are grown on high-altitude terraces on the steep slopes of Botmaskop Mountain, which are cooled by sea breezes from the Atlantic. The wines show outstanding purity, which has become the hallmark of Delaire Graff wines. Delaire Graff was classed as First Growth in 2022 by Tim Atkin MW, and is ranked 36th by the World's Best Vineyards 2023

2023 presented near-perfect growing conditions, which impacted favourably on the grape quality. The harvest was completed early; the result of a long dry summer followed by heavy December rainfall. Earlier in the year, when discussing the anticipated 2023 vintages, Winemaker Morné Vrey commented that the Cabernet Franc Rosé had the potential to mature into the best the estate had ever crafted.