Hermanuspietersfontein, Swartskaap 2020
You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.
150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.
‘Swartskaap’ translates to ‘Black Sheep’ from Afrikaans. HPF’s iconic Cabernet Franc that really stands out from the herd!
This wine is the heart and soul of HPF. The wine is aged in old (50%) and new (50%) French oak 225L barrique (50%) and 500L pigeons (50%) for a 24 month period. It then undergoes a further 24 months of cellaring before release.
Expect bright red and black fruit like raspberries and blackcurrants along with black olive, graphite, milk chocolate and Italian herbs. The wine is layered and interesting with powdery tannin. Delicious now, but also has very good ageing potential.
£32.00
Sondagskloof, Walker Bay
Cabernet Franc
LightFull Bodied
Description
“Swartskaap” – translated to Black Sheep from Afrikaans – His name crops up even when he’s not there. The odd one out. He goes about life in ways different to the rest of the Family. He’ll zig while others zag. When they shake their heads, it means deep down they’re proud of him…
HPF’s iconic Cabernet franc! This wine is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do…no surprise that this vineyard is planted in the “heart” of our property! As a single varietal wine, Cabernet franc poses a great challenge both in the vineyard and the cellar due to its robust nature. The wine ages in old (50%) and new (50%) French oak barrique (50%) and pigeons (50%) for a 24 month period. Post bottling, we then cellar the wine for a further 24 months before the wine is released onto the market. Our aim is to be meticulous creating something that will not just please but hopefully shift boundaries. On the palate this wine embodies our wine philosophy of BALANCE,ELEGANCE, FRESHNESS, DRINKABILITY, LONGEVITY! These wines will age for 10 years and beyond, provided stored under optimum conditions.
Swartskaap is our iconic Cabernet franc, the heart and soul of our vineyard and philosophy. Planted at the very center of our property, this vineyard symbolizes our commitment to creating unique and boundary-pushing wines.
As the “odd one out,” Swartskaap embraces a different path, zigging where others zag. Carefully crafted from 100% Cabernet franc, this wine undergoes meticulous aging for 24 months in French oak barrels, equally divided between new and older barriques and puncheons. After bottling, we cellar the wine for an additional 24 months before releasing it, ensuring optimal balance, elegance, and complexity.
Enjoy expressive aromas of vibrant red and purple fruits, such as raspberries and blackcurrants, complemented by notes of black olive and fresh herbal spice. The palate is dense and generous, showcasing intense fruit character with layers of milk chocolate praline, supple tannins, and persistent length. Freshness from herbal nuances of rosemary, thyme, and mint provides beautiful balance.
Swartskaap embodies balance, elegance, freshness, drinkability, and longevity, promising graceful aging for 10 years or more under optimal cellar conditions.
VARIETAL
100% Cabernet Franc
VINEYARD
• Region: Sondagskloof
• Climate: Cool climate, promoting balanced ripeness and freshness
• Soil: Well-drained soils delivering complexity and expressive fruit
MATURATION
24 months in French oak:
• 25% new barriques (225L)
• 25% second/third-fill barriques (225L)
• 25% new puncheons (500L)
• 25% second/third-fill puncheons (500L)
• Further matured 24 months in bottle prior to release
VINIFICATION
24 Single-varietal Cabernet franc crafted meticulously to highlight balance, elegance, freshness, drinkability, and longevity.
• Robust varietal; vineyard located at property’s “heart”
• Precise blending of old and new French oak
• Carefully cellared prior to release
Aging potential: 10+ years under optimal conditions
Bottling date: July 2022
TASTING NOTES
Aroma:
- Red & purple fruits: raspberries, blackcurrants
- Savoury notes: black olive
- Herbal spice: fresh green herbs
Palate:
- Generous and dense fruit intensity, milk chocolate praline notes, supple and full-bodied. Persistent length with sweet herbal spice (rosemary, thyme, mint) providing refreshing balance.
ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Total Acidity: 5.6 g/L
pH: 3.55
Additional information
| Vintage | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Grape | Cabernet Franc |
| Wine Farm | |
| Alcohol vol | 14% |
| Origin | Sondagskloof, Walker Bay |
A hearty homemade beef lasagna, be generous with the italian herbs as they’ll compliment the slight herbaceousness of Cabernet Franc perfectly.
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