Kanonkop Wine Estate : Paul Sauer 2022

A great South African red wine that is fresh and elegant

The estate

Founded in 1910 by the Sauer family, Kanonkop Wine Estate owes its name to a hill (kop) on Simonsberg where, in the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon shot (kanon) signaled the arrival of sailing ships in Table Bay to alert the farmers, who would then head to the port (50 km away) to sell their harvests.

The estate’s first wines were produced in 1973 under the impetus of Paul Sauer, a politician who served 41 years in the South African parliament, driven by the ambition to raise the country’s wines to the highest level.

Today, the 4th generation, embodied by brothers Johann and Paul Krige, produces cuvées acclaimed beyond South Africa’s borders for their pure, refined expression of Stellenbosch’s identity, the flagship appellation of the Western Cape.

The vineyard

Paul Sauer is made from vines located on Simonsberg and Stellenbosch. Around 30 years old, they are rooted in decomposed granite soils.

Winemaking and aging

Fermentation in concrete vats with regular manual punch-downs. Five-day maceration before malolactic fermentation. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, 100% new.

Blend

This Western Cape wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.