Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon
ProductWine
From South Africa
Alc. Vol %:14.50
Format:750ml
Price per unit US$2.20
Price per unit €:On request
Post Date29/01/2019
Description
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted variety on the Estate making up 43% of all plantings. The soil is mainly limestone based, although a small portion comes from shale. The goal of the wine is to make wine that shows lots of fruit flavor, as well as soft tannins, whilst maintain a good structure. This is achieved via very strict canopy management to prevent shaded fruit and harvesting at optimal ripeness.
The grapes are harvested by hand for greater quality control. The wines are immediately destemmed but not crushed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks for a period of 7 days at a temperature of between 28 and 32˚ Celsius. Aerated racking was done twice daily to ensure a clean ferment and soft tannins. The grapes were gently pressed in a bladder press, after which malo-lactic fermentation was completed in tank.
Aging
40% of the total wine was aged in a mixture of French and American oak for a period of 9 months, whilst the remaining wine was tank aged. All terroir units were aged separately and then combined at blending.
Vintage Conditions
This is widely regarded as the El Nino year in South Africa. The summer was hotter and riper than normal which required some adaptation in the vineyards to ensure a quality grape harvest. Grapes were harvested earlier than normal to ensure that there was freshness in the wines. The positive aspect of the drought was a very healthy crop with good concentration. The red wines from 2017 are rich and very structured.
Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Petit Verdot 10%
Analysis
Alcohol 14.63% Acidity 5.6g/l pH 3.52
Residual Sugar 2.9g/l
Winemaker’s notes
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays ripe blackcurrant, and dried herb characters on the nose, which are backed up with some spicy oak notes. The palate is smooth and soft, with beautiful ripe tannins and a long finish.
Food pairing by in-house chef
With the blackcurrant and dried herb character it’s a spot-on choice to pare a juicy medium sirloin steak
Brand Distribution Graph
- Current World Distribution
- Looking for World Distribution
- Current US State Distribution
- Looking for US State Distribution
Countries this brand is distributed in:
Countries this brand looking to be distributed in:
US States this brand is distributed in:
US States this brand is looking to be distributed in:
About this company
Excelsior Wine Estate has been in the de Wet family since 1859 and has a long history of producing good quality wine. The family philosophy is that good wine starts in the vineyards – the wine maker can only succeed with the best ingredients to work with. The wine farm is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa, where the fifth generation of the De Wet family continues the special relationship with the terroir of this great property of the Breede River Valley. CORE BELIEFS 1. Quality obsession Excelsior’s long standing philosophy is that great wines are made in the vineyards and perfected in the cellar. It all starts in the vineyards, and the wine maker can only succeed with the best ingredients to work with. Owning and managing our own vineyards is of great importance as we get better control of the quality of the grape production. The grapes are all hand harvested by our dedicated, permanent staff. This forms the basis of creating a superior wine that can compete in the premium wine segment. The name Excelsior is derived from the Latin ‘excelsus’ which means ‘high, eminent, illustrious’. It simply means more of this i.e. higher or better. Excelsior keeps true to its name by subscribing to the higher purpose of not only making palatable wines but making better, higher quality wine. Achieving consistency in quality is not only important, it is our everyday obsession. This consistency has been validated by various awards, and recognitions by influential specialized publications. “Own vineyards, hand harvested grapes” 2. Brand building In an industry where consumers are often overwhelmed by thousands of brands in the wine wall, it is a top priority of Excelsior to build strong, recognisable and lasting brands. The aim is not only to have a brand that stands out to the consumer but also to position the image of Excelsior and South Africa as a top quality fine wine producer. 3. Premium Segment As Excelsior is very focused on the producing quality wines and healthy brands, it is evident that we position ourselves in the premium segment. We do play in other segments as well such as the entry level with our Purebred range, however our main focus remains the fine wine sector. It is in this section that the market shies away from trading solely on price and you can achieve loyalty through brand building. “Premium focused” 4. Partnership The fact that Excelsior is a 5th generation family enterprise sets a premise for a certain style of thinking. Whether it is starting a new venture in a foreign country, or the planting of a vine in our soil, the idea is always to think in terms of the long run. We are very focused on creating a strong international distribution network by developing long-term relationships with our distributors. This allows us to invest in brand building together with our partners, OUR PRODUCTS: Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 5th Biggest South African exporter to the USA Vintage 2012: 84 points in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Vintage 2011: 87 points Steve Tanzer 89 points Wine Enthusiast Only South African wine in Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buys 2014 Six Consecutive Wine Enthusiast Best Buy 2006-2011 Vintage 2017: 89 points Gilbert Gaillard Vintage 2017: Michelangelo Silver Vintage 2017: Veritas Silver Vintage 2016: 87 points Neal Martin Excelsior Merlot Vintage 2008: Michelangelo Double Gold Vintage 2010: Michelangelo Gold Vintage 2011: Michelangelo Silver Vintage 2017: 87 points Gilbert Gaillard Vintage 2017: Michelangelo Gold Vintage 2017: Veritas Silver Excelsior Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2013: 86 points Wine Spectator Vintage 2014: Michelangelo Double Gold (Gran d’Or) 86 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Vintage 2018: Veritas Bronze Vintage 2018: 90 points Neal Martin Excelsior Shiraz Vintage 2011: 88 points Steve Tanzer Vintage 2012: 84 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Vintage 2017: 87 points Gilbert Gaillard Vintage 2017: Michelangelo Silver Vintage 2017: Veritas Silver Vintage 2016: 88 points Neal Martin Excelsior Chardonnay Vintage 2013: 85 points Wine Spectator Vintage 2014: 84 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Vintage 2018: 87 points Gilbert Gaillard Vintage 2018: Michelangelo Gold Vintage 2018: Veritas Bronze Vintage 2018: 91 points Neal Martin Excelsior Viognier Vintage 2013: Michelangelo Double Gold (Gran d’Or) Vintage 2018: Veritas Silver Excelsior Purebred Red Vintage 2016: Michelangelo Gold Vintage 2016: Veritas Silver Excelsior Caitlyn Rose Vintage 2018: Veritas Bronze Excelsior Purebred White
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