Vergenoegd Löw Lara Cabernet Sauvignon 2022: A luscious blend of dark fruit and blackberries, enhanced by delicate hints of fynbos.
It’s no secret that Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch, the heart of South Africa’s wine region, is renowned for its excellence. When someone mentions “Stellenbosch Cabernet,” wine enthusiasts immediately take notice. These two words evoke a sense of trust, guaranteed quality, and exceptional taste. Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon wines have gained significant international and local acclaim over the years. This recognition has helped to raise the profile of South African wine on the world stage.
Known as the King of Reds, it’s the country’s most widely planted red wine grape, grown here since the late part of the 19th century.
The Stellenbosch region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters – ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon. The diverse terroir, with soil types ranging from sandy loam to clay and granite, results in various expressions of the grape, from rich and bold to elegant and nuanced.
“Our location is easily recognisable in our fresh and elegantly layered Cabernet Sauvignons. Actually, in all our wines,” says Vusi Dalicuba, our 30-year-old winemaker.
Vergenoegd Löw is situated along Stellenbosch’s Helderberg Wine Route.
“We’re located just 12m above sea level and less than 5km from the False Bay coast as the crow flies,” he explains.
“Both these factors influence the temperature on the farm, creating a cooler environment than in the Stellenbosch area in general, sometimes by as much as 3°C. The Atlantic winds have a cooling effect during the summer months in the lead-up to harvest, slowing ripening and concentrating flavours. The salty breezes also act as a natural fungicide.
“Meanwhile, also unusual for Stellenbosch, we have lime-rich, calcareous soils, thanks to our low-lying, ancient seabed location, dense with sea fossils and minerals. Calcareous soils are well-draining but also retain water.
“Very importantly, vines grown in these soils produce wines of great freshness, with good acidity, elegance and longevity – and that’s a distinction one can immediately pick up in our wines. I believe it sets up apart. And our progressive regenerative farming initiatives, of course.”
Dexter cattle at work: these industrious grazers keep pests at bay, munch on weeds, and enrich the soil with their waste, supporting vibrant vineyard health.
Our farm’s reputation for outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon was established by fifth generation owner Jac Faure, who went on to win the General Smuts Trophy many times, beginning in 1972. He sold the historic estate to German investor Prof Dr Dr Peter Löw in 2015. Since then, our new owner has appointed various specialists to revitalise what is one of South Africa’s oldest working farms, dating back to 1696.
We continue building on the Faure tradition of award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, Vusi was recently judged runner-up at the inaugural 2024 Next Generation Awards, sponsored by FedEx Express and convened by Winemag.co.za, earning a score of 95 points for his 2022 Vergenoegd Löw Lara Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2022 vintage was his first on the estate.
Award-winning winemaker Vusi Dalicuba.
“Respect for our heritage is a strong theme that runs through everything we do here at Vergenoegd Löw. Farming here goes back almost 330 years. So we honour traditional ways of farming for better vineyard health and sustainability. But we combine it with new, dynamic thinking and approaches. We experiment a lot – it’s really exciting,” Vusi states.
At Vergenoegd Löw, our winemaking recipe is to “follow the grapes” (or “more land than hand”, as the approach is sometimes called). The grapes themselves dictate how the berries should be vinified.
“That’s why we vinify each block individually, to express its distinctive characters.
“Consider our Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. What makes this wine so delicious, even now while still young, is its intense concentration of black and red fruit flavours highlighted by herbal notes and dark chocolate hints on the nose, and chalky tannins and a slight salinity on the palate. It’s complex and elegantly structured with well-integrated wood as a result of 18 months in new and older oak, making it suitable for further ageing.”
Vusi mentions its food-friendliness and recommends serving it with hearty meals, from grilled steaks and lamb chops, to casseroles, roasts, deeply flavoured vegetarian dishes and strong, mature cheeses.
“Buy a bottle via our online shop and give it a taste. When it comes to food, you don’t need much, just some full-bodied, robust flavours to complement this wine. Serve it at your next braai, fancy fillet dinner or Sunday roast.
Our resident sommelier, George Young.
“Or visit us for a personal tasting by our resident sommelier George Young, or a meal at any one of our two outstanding restaurants.”
Visit our luxurious Homestead Wine Lounge in our historic manor house, that some experts suggest dates as far back as 1717. It was declared a National Monument in 1974. Sit back and relax in a luxurious, serene environment and discover our estate’s finely crafted wines. If you’re up for a sensory experience, try our special Indigenous Tasting, where you also get to sample local flavours like *bokkoms, biltong and roosterkoek. Or enjoy a generous platter with artisanal cured meats and cheeses, fruit and more.
Experience the taste of the region with local favorites like bokkoms, biltong, and roosterkoek.
The entire Vergenoegd Löw collection of wines is available to order at Geuwels,) the casual eatery on our farm by renowned chef Bertus Basson and fellow Stellenbosch chef, Drikus Brink. Lunches showcase local ingredients in small-plate dishes to share. These are familiar, well-loved tastes amongst most South Africans, but they have been reimagined in fresh and original new ways.
Or ask for our wines at Clara’s Barn, chefs Bertus and Drikus’ fine-dining restaurant that reinterprets traditional dishes from South African farm kitchens and serves a five-course menu for lunch and dinner, most days of the week. It’s housed in what in all probability is the oldest building on the farm, thought to pre-date our 1717 homestead.
Make a reservation to experience the history and charm of our serene Stellenbosch wine estate.
