WINEMAKER: Abrie Beeslaar
COMPOSITION: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 40% Cabernet Franc
ORIGIN: Stellenbosch (Helderberg & Banhoek)
AGE OF VINES: 21 years
IRRIGATION: Supplementary drip irrigation
SOIL TYPE: Decomposed granite
YIELD: 5 tons per hectare
AGEING POTENTIAL: 20 to 30 years from vintage

VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The 2023 season began with mild, dry conditions that limited berry size and yields while enhancing overall quality. Heavy rains in early March challenged late-ripening cultivars, yet our Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc ripened beautifully – a testament to growing the right cultivars on the right sites, delivering grapes of exceptional quality.

VINIFICATION
The hand-harvested grapes were destemmed, carefully sorted, partially crushed, and fermented in open-top fermenters. The cap was gently punched down every six hours over a period of six days for optimal colour extraction. The wine was then matured in 100% new 225L French oak barrels for 20 months, undergoing two rackings during this time.

TASTING NOTES
The nose reveals an inviting blend of cassis, dark hedgerow fruit, dark chocolate, and tobacco, complemented by pronounced graphite, delicate herbal notes, and savoury elements, reflecting the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc in this vintage (with Merlot omitted due to insufficient ripeness).

The palate is bold and layered, showing a harmonious balance of fruit and oak around a dark-fruited core, finishing rich and dry with remarkable complexity, elegance, and ageing potential.

Alcohol – 14.50%
Residual Sugar – 2.2 g/l
Total Acidity – 5.96 g/l
pH – 3.53

Data Sheet:

https://www.beeslaar.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Fact-Sheet-Beeslaar-The-Sacrament-2023.pdf