Finca del Mar Cabernet Franc 2020

Finca del Mar Cabernet Franc 2020 is from a vineyard on the slopes of the Langeberg between Swellendam and Ashton, about an hour and half’s drive from Cape Infanta where Alex Starey and family of Stellenbosch property Keermont takes their holidays.

It’s pretty much the antithesis of Starey’s often rather opulent red wines under the Keermont label, the grapes picked early, and winemaking involving carbonic maceration before maturation lasting 12 months in a second-fill French oak barrel and a glass demi-john.

The nose shows lifted aromatics of roses, violets, red berries and some attractive herbal character while the palate is delicate and intricate – lovely pure fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish very dry and even lightly spicy (alcohol is 12.07%). A delight to drink.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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