Today marks the official release of the new vintages from Kaapzicht’s Steytler range of wines: the 2020 vintage of their three flagship estate red wines and 2021 vintage of their old vine single site Chenin blanc, ”The 1947”.
Dear Reader,
The Steytler family has farmed Kaapzicht since 1946 and Danie Junior is now the fourth generation winemaker. The family’s 162 hectares of unirrigated vines grow in old weathered granite soils on the north-western slopes of the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, 30 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, and are planted to 70% red varietals. All wines produced are 100% estate grown and bottled.
There are four wines which make up the premium range at Kaapzicht. These are, under the Steytler moniker, ”Vision”, ”Pentagon”, Pinotage and ”The 1947” Chenin blanc – all of which are only produced in vintages deemed good enough by the family. The last vintage of the ”Vision” and ”Pentagon” to be released was 2017 and for the Pinotage it was the 2018. Production remains very small at less than 2,000 bottles of the Chenin blanc and less than 6,000 bottles each of the three red wines each vintage.
The 2021 vintage of ”The 1947” Chenin blanc is available on an allocation basis only. Please speak to us if you would like to receive an allocation. The 2020 reds are sold on a first-come first-served basis.
The Steytler range makes for some of South Africa’s most iconic and age-worthy wines, produced by one of the industry’s nicest human beings. We are very proud to have Danie Junior part of the GD family.
Steytler range
Steytler | ”The 1947” Chenin blanc | 2021 | 1,800 bottles produced | R 630 per bottle
This wine is produced from old bush vines planted by Danie Jnr’s great-grandfather in 1947. The vineyard has been registered as a single vineyard, making it the second oldest Chenin blanc block in the country. Originally 6 hectares in size, just 1.1 hectare of the very low-yielding vineyard remains.
Grapes are picked by hand, whole bunch pressed, left to settle overnight with fermentation starting naturally in French oak barrels. Only three 500L barrels are used (one new, one second and one third-fill). After about eleven months, Danie assembles the best possible blend from the three barrels.
Steytler | Pinotage | 2020 | 5,500 bottles produced | R 630 per bottle
”Steytler Pinotage is our patriotic devotion to the trials and tribulations of mastering Pinotage since its earlies beginnings right here in the Bottelary Hills. As this is South Africa’s only truly original grape, we are fixated on flaunting its finesse to the world. With this wine we pay homage to George Steytler who farmed Kaapzicht for 33 years.” – Danie Jnr.
These Pinotage vines come from one bush vine block planted in weathered granite topsoil on a layer of gravel, above a crumbly clay sub-soil. Hand-harvested grapes are pressed and following fermentation, the wine is matured for twenty months in 300-litre French oak barrels (80% new and 20% second-fill).
Steytler | ”Vision” | 2020 | 5,500 bottles produced | R 630 per bottle
The Vision is a red blend which includes Pinotage therefore making it a Cape blend. It was first made in 2000 by Danie Jnr’s father. The 2020 is a blend of 51% Pinotage, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot. All three components are vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 28 months. Danie Jnr does a barrel selection to ultimately determine the final blend.
Steytler | ”Pentagon” | 2020 | 5,500 bottles produced | R 630 per bottle
This wine is a blend of the five Bordeaux varietals grown at Kaapzicht. The 2020 is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. All five components are vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 28 months. Danie Jnr does a barrel selection to ultimately determine the final blend.
