A Week With South African Wine - Wednesday: The Cabernet Franc

by Andrew Chalk

Yesterday I wrote…

I have been impressed by South African wines pretty much from my first contact with them. Nowadays they reflect expert winemaking, a God-given climate for grape growing, and good value. Recently, I was acquainted with another of the seemingly endless cast of small, family-run wineries in South Africa when the estimable John Gorman of Southern Starz wrote to me and said, "Oy! You have to try the wines of David Finlayson."

"David Finlayson?" I said. "What is his background?"

"Time at Château Margaux. Winemaker at Glen Carlou — their Chardonnay is the single most successful Chardonnay in South Africa. Long, consistent history, of course," replied Gorman.

I was intrigued, and waited with anticipation to taste the wines.

Finlayson makes a broad selection of red and white wines so to give them the attention that each deserves I have split them into smaller ‘sub-flights’. 

Today it is the turn of the Cabernet Franc.   

David Finlayson 2022 'Camino Africana' Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($49)

This wine is an ambassador for the idiosyncrasies of the Cabernet Franc grape. Opaque ruby to the eye. Flirtatiously peppery to the nose. Backed up by a complex helping of forest floor. Mild green pepper, blackberries, and herbes de Provence on the palate. This was my personal favorite of the David Finlayson wines and I paired it with filet mignon and veg. You could drink it now or keep it. The velvet tannins give it the structure to go for another five years with confidence.  

Buy here.

Sample.