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Restless River, Cabernet Sauvignon Main Road & Dignity, 2020

Red Wine from South Africa, South Africa
by Restless River
$79.99
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout.
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A genuine cult discovery from Hemel-en-Aarde, the cool-climate valley inland from Hermanus whose name means Heaven and Earth, where Craig and Anne Wessels farm soils over 400 million years old. Main Road & Dignity, named for its two source blocks, is a rare thing: a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from this cool corner of South Africa, picked late so it builds flavor without losing freshness, in an unmistakably Old World style. The 2020 has cassis, bay leaf and fresh-herb lift over grippy tannins, with real concentration and the structure to age. This is serious, restrained wine shaped by patience, never loud. Drink now with a decant or cellar for years.

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Jancis Robinson

16 points

"Deep, lustrous crimson. Quite a strong pyrazine character. Not as convincing as the Pinot 2021 from this producer but a serious, well-constructed wine. Slightly drying finish. 2024-2030"

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More about Restless River

The estate is tucked in a valley just inland from the coastal town of Hermanus, called the Hemel-en-Aarde – Afrikaans for “Heaven and Earth” and named by missionaries who said the surrounding mountains seemed to touch the sky, with only heaven and earth visible around them. It is one of South Africa’s great cool-climate regions, shaped by ocean air, mountain influence, and long, slow ripening seasons.

The granite, sandstone, and shale soils here are over 400 million years old: ancient, even by wine world standards. The South Africans like to point out that when Burgundy’s limestones were forming on Jurassic seabeds 150ish million years ago, these African soils were already hundreds of millions of years old. The erosion of ages since has weathered that rock into a complex mix of decomposed granite, shale and sandstone that is a terroir lover’s dream.

Given its unique microclimate and ancient soils, this is a region naturally suited to impeccably balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But against all odds, Restless River has also made a very strong case for Cabernet Sauvignon. The coolness of these vineyards lets the fruit hang longer, building flavor and phenolic maturity without losing freshness. The result is Cabernet that feels closer to the Old World, full of complexity and terroir influence. Meanwhile, the Pinot Noir offers ripe fruit with that quintessential savory Cape edge, and the Chardonnay carries texture and depth without becoming heavy.

Craig uses multiple vessels for the Chardonnay, including barrels (both old and new), steel tanks, and even a couple of amphoras, so that the common threads of fruit and vineyard sing, and no single vessel can dominate the palate. The wines are serious and concentrated, but never loud. They are shaped by patience, restraint, and a learned hand in the cellar.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Vintage

    2020

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Minerally , Tannic

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

What Skurnik Wines has to say about this wine:

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Main Road and Dignity are two single vineyards that are the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, planted in 1999

Granitic rocky topsoils including koffie klip, heavy clay subsoil

Hand harvested

Basket pressed and fermented with indigenous yeast

Released after 2 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with herbs, venison, or a board of aged hard cheeses.

Tasting Profile

Concentrated but restrained Cabernet with cassis, damson, bay leaf and fresh herbs. Grippy tannins, bright freshness and a long finish. Decant; built to age.

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