Description
Two blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon grown on Stony Brook make up the complementary components for this exceptional wine. Extremely well- drained soils ensure maximum concentration and intensity. The bunches were harvested by hand at full ripeness, before being hand-sorted and cold macerated for 4 days. The individual berries were fermented in stainless steel, receiving four pumpovers a day. After pressing, the wine was transferred into 80% new French oak barriques, where spontaneous malolactic fermentation and a further 26 months of maturation took place. 2021 produced some of the finest fruit that we have seen from our Cabernet vineyards.
Producer Profile
The McNaught family fell in love with Franschhoek in the late 1980s, when Nigel and Joy McNaught decided to purchase a piece of land and begin their journey in to wine. The focus from the beginning was on crafting premium-quality wines that reflected the area and the styles of wine that excited them. Several years later, they sold their first farm and sought a smaller property that would better aid them in creating the wines that they had dreamed of. In 1995 they purchased an old fruit farm. This property is now known as Stony Brook. With a strong focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay, the McNaught family replanted the entire farm to vines and built a small cellar in which to produce the first wines under the Stony Brook label. In 2011, the owners were joined by their son, Craig McNaught, who took over the reigns as winemaker. As time has passed, the ideals of Stony Brook have remained firmly in place and the wines still reflect a strong sense of place and passion. The latest revelation at Stony Brook has been the introduction of Tempranillo vines to the property, comprising the only component in one of their critically-acclaimed wines, Ovidius. “Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast. In the pool where you least expect it, will be a fish.” – Publius Ovidius Naso
Reviews
Greg Sherwood 95+
The 2021 Ghost Gum Cabernet Sauvignon is yet another stunning expression from one of the best red wine vintages the Cape winelands have seen since 2017, 2015 and 2009. The aromatics are delightfully vibrant and fragrant revealing notes of violets, sage, potpourri, sweet black currant, black cherries, and subtle notes of cedar spice, tilled earth and a dusty granitic minerality. In the mouth, the wine is luxuriously rich, fleshy, and textural, coating the palate with creamy creme de cassis, stewed black plum fruits and sweet, dense, silky tannins all underpinned by sumptuously soft integrated acids. An incredibly harmonious wine with a finessed balance and a pristine black fruited concentration kissed with a hint of chocolate praline and spearmint on the finish. A triumphant wine for the Franschhoek fine wine scene. Drink on release and over the next 10+ years. [Greg Sherwood MW, 19/09/2024]
