WINE Cabernet franc
Our home cuvée is called Climes of Cabernet franc. Multi-regional in origin, it produces a snapshot of the Cape’s vineyards each year. We revel in the flow of our weather. In as genuine a manner as possible, we want the indelible mark of each vintage from the individual parcels to shine in the wine. We prefer whole cluster fermentations. We do not add enzymes, fining agents, or filter. As such, sometimes the differences are subtle, and sometimes they are striking. Just like our memories of the weather. As it should be.
Occasionally, we find a vintage of a particular vineyard that wants to be bottled by itself. So we do.
Climes of Cabernet franc 2021
Weather Report’s Climes of Cabernet franc 2021 is a reflection of a vintage that continues to live up to early praises. Across the Cape, picking dates were later than in 2020, and the moderate growth from good rains in the previous winter brought ripeness without stressing the vines too much.
The core of the blend is built on Bot River and Elgin, with seasoning and complexity brought by the various parcels we work with. A year with less erratic conditions delivered wines from Sands (Paarl) and Carey (Wellington) that were elegant and perfumed. The 2021 is currently showing floral aromas with a peppery edge, carried by confident bramble fruit, and made wild by earthy undertones.
Flight Farm Cabernet franc 2021
Weather Report’s Flight Farm 2021 cabernet franc was too unique to let slip into the Climes. The southern stars aligned and a fresh season in this cool climate gave us a wine of contrast. From the four picks starting on 11 February and ending 14 March comes a wine that is bold and broody in flavour and structure. Grippy with youthful tannins, yet agile in a most pleasing way. It continues to gain in complexity as it matures.
Good cellaring will be rewarded.
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Our Climes of Cabernet franc, originally called Atlas, was first bottled in 2019. We still get excited to open an older bottle. It remains youthful, though the tannins are resolving, and the palate plumping up as it edges toward adolescence and their secrets are revealed.
We also bottled two single site wines in 2019 of Flight Farm and Sands.
The Atlas of 2020 is evolving gracefully, which is pleasantly surprising considering an awkward first year in bottle. Perhaps the vintage also had to shake off the pandemic woes.