The BOMB 2018

This is a limited - 900 bottle - production from Stellenbosch grapes. A heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet franc/Petit Verdot blend from the Helderberg, Somerset West. At an alcohol of 15.5%, be prepared to take a blow or 2...

The Story:

This wine started way back - I bottled a straight 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from a friend’s farm. The wine was big, but I loved it. After bottling, the Department of Agriculture came back with the final analysis. An alcohol of 16.14% - GOODNESS?! 

I stacked the wine in the back of the warehouse, not sure what to do with it. I then had a tasting at the Hinterhofkabuff with a German guy called Martin Baulmann, who subsequently became my agent in Germany. We tasted all my wines and at the end he asked me if I had something big for him to taste. "How do you mean; BIG?", I asked. "In colour, extraction, tannin?..."." Like in 15% alcohol...", he replied. "I think I have something even better for you" I said. So I opened a still unlabelled bottle and poured him a glass of what I was planning to name Midnight Call. He loved it and wanted to buy everything. For those of you who do not know Martin: He has a big frame, laughs loudly, and lives large. So afterwards I sat in the Hinterhofkabuff drinking a glass, thinking of this very big guy that loved this very loud wine. It seemed natural to change the name to THE BOMB.

So this is the new BOMB in bottle now. Not as excessive in alcohol as it’s predecessors - only 15.5%, but still with a very large frame. Ripe Helderberg fruit, super extracted yet balanced.