Experience the elegance and gravitas of the Van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2024, a stunning expression from the heart of Stellenbosch. Winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg, a rising star in the South African wine scene, masterfully crafts this wine. The 2024 vintage, a testament to a fast and intense growing season, yielded a wine of incredible depth and concentration. Consequently, it has a distinctly old-world feel.
The name ‘Breton’ is a nod to the old French name for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. Similarly, that region inspired Van Loggerenberg Wines. The label’s silhouette of a woman and a Percheron horse symbolizes the wine’s powerful yet elegant nature. It has a firm structure with great finesse. Ultimately, the wine earned significant critical praise, including 95 Points from Tim Atkin MW.
Tasting & Technical Details
When you taste it, the nose offers a complex tapestry of aromatics. For example, it has fragrant notes of red and black cherries, violets, and crushed herbs. Hints of pencil shavings and fynbos beautifully complement these aromas. Furthermore, the palate is medium-bodied and vibrant. It has a core of juicy red fruit framed by vivid acidity and velvety tannins. Overall, it is a wine of exceptional balance and poise. It has a long, insistent, and dry finish, which leaves a lasting impression of purity and energy.
The wine’s unique profile comes from its specific production methods. For example, it is a blend of two parcels. One is 80% from a vineyard in Lynedoch, which is fully destemmed. The other is 20% from a Loire clone vineyard in Polkadraai Hills, which undergoes 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Both vineyards sit on decomposed granite with Ferricrete (koffieklip) in the topsoil. During winemaking, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts takes place. The destemmed portion spends four weeks on the skins with daily punch-downs. Meanwhile, the whole bunch portion stays on the skins for two weeks. Afterward, the wine is aged for 11 months in third-fill 500L French oak barrels.