A complex cabernet sauvignon worth keeping.
Paserene is a small Franschhoek winery with a big mission. Together with co-owner Ndabe Mareda, winemaker Martin Smith wants to capture an unforgettable moment of time in a bottle. Martin’s goal is to create characterful boutique wines with a definable sense of place.
A Franschhoek farm (with an elegant contemporary tasting lounge and garden) as well as vineyards in Tulbagh and Elgin, give Martin three distinctive terroirs to explore. What links the three is sustainable production at the heart of the farming process, and Martin’s attention to detail in the winemaking process.
A Tulbagh cabernet sauvignon
Paserene planted a very special cabernet sauvignon in its Tulbagh vineyards. Here the hot climate, with cool evenings and decomposed shale soil, lends itself to wine that has richly developed flavours and long-lasting finishes. The resulting Paserene Marathon 2020 (100% cabernet sauvignon) has recently been released, and it more than lives up to expectations. The gorgeous black-to-purple colour is a testimony to the quality of the hand-sorted grapes selected at harvest, and fermented in small, upright French oak barrels.
“It’s a great cabernet sauvignon wine from an area not previously known for cab,” says Martin.”The wine is good to drink now, but we recommend you keep it in your cellar for at least five years to mature nicely.” It will last for the next 50 years if cellared correctly, so makes a good investment, and ties in to Martin’s love for tasting older wines. “Truly old wines from the 1920s and 1940s are like a time capsule, a liquid photograph,” he says.
Paserene Marathon 2020
Aromas of blackcurrant, crème de cassis and balsamic vinegar are at the forefront on the nose, followed by black peppercorns, allspice and dried flowers; a complex bouquet that only gets better with age. On the palate, the tannin, fruit, alcohol and oak give this wine great finesse, body and weight.
It pairs beautifully with fat-marbled grilled meats such as lamb or ribeye, game birds, aged cheeses and salted nuts.
Cheers!
Buy Now
Discover all of the Cape’s hidden gems – subscribe to our weekly newsletter.