Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon by Leeu Passant with ripe fruit and fresh acidity from a cool mountain site.
Stellenbosch / South African Wine
Leeu Passant, Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
£43.99
In stock
About This Wine
The Wine
Leeu Passant's Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vineyards on the mid-slopes of Helderberg Mountain, one of the coolest areas in the region at 300m elevation. The iron and sandstone-rich soils help produce concentrated grapes with fine balance. The 2023 vintage had a cool winter leading to small berries with intense flavour. The grapes are destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged for 20 months in 500-litre French oak barrels (one-third new) before being blended and matured further in larger oak vessels. This approach nurtures the wine's finesse and fresh acidity, alongside ripe, grainy tannins, and tobacco leaf aromas typical of Cabernet from cooler sites. The wine shows deep notes of blackberry, mulberry leaf and crushed thyme on the nose, with a plum-tinged palate and a long, balanced finish.
- Region
- Stellenbosch
- Country
- South African Wine
- Grape
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Aging Potential
- Drink within 5-7 years for best balance, though can age longer with careful cellaring.
Tasting Notes
On the Nose
Deep aromas of blackberries, mulberry leaf, and crushed thyme.
On the Palate
Plum flavours with soft, grainy tannins balanced by fresh acidity.
Finish
Long and balanced finish with excellent acidity.
- Body
-
Light Full
- Dry / Sweetness
-
Dry Sweet
- Tannins
-
Low High
- Acidity
-
Low High
Food Pairing
Red Meat, Game, Pasta, Cheese
Serving Suggestions
- Serving temperature
- 16-18°C
- Glass type
- Bordeaux
- Decanting
- Decant for 30 minutes to an hour to allow the tannins to soften and the aromas to open.
- Aging potential
- Drink within 5-7 years for best balance, though can age longer with careful cellaring.
The Producer
In 2013, husband and wife team, Chris and Andrea Mullineux, partnered with Analjit Singh (BAS) and started the Leeu Passant winery on Analjit’s stunning Leeu Estates in Franschhoek. Leeu Passant is focused on expressing the South African landscape and climate as well as celebrating South African winemaking and viticultural heritage by working with some of the Cape’s oldest and most exciting vineyards.
The Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines partnership of Chris and Andrea Mullineux and Analjit Singh also own the Mullineux winery in Swartland. Founded in 2007 in the Swartland region of South Africa, the Mullineuxs set out with a shared vision to create fine wines that reflect the distinct terroir of the area while embracing reasoned, sustainable farming practices and modern minimalist winemaking.
Technical Details
- Bottle size
- 750ml
- Closure
- Natural Cork
- Serving temperature
- 16-18°C
- Residual sugar
- 1.8 g/l
- pH
- 3.74
- Total acidity
- 4.7 g/l
- Harvest dates
- early March
Terroir
Sourced from mid-slope vineyards on Helderberg Mountain at 300 metres high, planted on iron and sandstone-rich soils. The cool climate lends natural balance and finesse to the grapes.