2018 David Finlayson Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch 750 ml

The 94-point 2018 David Finlayson Stellenbosch Cab is the type of wine that’s earned Stellenbosch the title of South Africa’s “Kingdom of Cabernet” and status as a must-know Cab region. It’s a powerful and nuanced wine that demands attention.

This Cab’s success is the culmination of David Finlayson’s long and venerable winemaking history. Raised in Stellenbosch, he’s got an in-depth comprehension of the land and a passion for getting every bit of quality he can from it. After cutting his teeth at wineries like Australia’s Peter Lehmann and 100-point icon Château Margaux, he brought his knowledge home and got to work. 

The result: this lavish Cabernet. Like the striking Stellenbosch Mountain that rises dramatically over its namesake town, this wine is majestic, the type of mesmerizing experience that holds your attention and won’t let go, that requires a friend or two to pull you back to earth. A dazzling ruby in the glass, it beguiles with a medley of raspberry, red rose, and Earl Gray aromas. The palate guides you along a winding trail of red fruit, licorice, and the region’s unique herbaceousness, enticing you time and again to see what’s beyond the next bend. 

Along with their 94-point review, Decanter named this wine one of its top 40 South African Cabernets. We think it belongs not only alongside the best South Africa has to offer, but among standout bottles from Napa and Bordeaux too. 

But as the region keeps turning out stellar wines, it’s only a matter of time before Cab fanatics descend on South Africa. And when that happens, deals like this will get increasingly scarce.

While Stellenbosch’s rise to international prominence is relatively recent, its viticultural history is anything but. Wine has been flowing there since the 1600s, owing largely to the area's ideal soils and climate. East of Cape Town and the South Atlantic, tucked into a mountainous landscape, Stellenbosch enjoys the abundant sunlight and maritime coolness that form the foundation of a phenomenal Cab region. 

What sets Stellenbosch apart is its ability to produce wholly distinctive wines. Its wide range of elevations has blessed its vineyards with 50 different well-draining soil types, including some of the world’s oldest soils. From this unique land, winemakers are able to craft wines with a “‘bridging’ style between the structured clarets of the Médoc and the fruity wines of Napa,” according to Decanter. 

David Finlayson’s 2018 Cab is certainly one of the supports in that Old World-New World bridge. Emerging from Malmesbury Shale and red clay soils in his celebrated GS vineyard and other acclaimed sites, it’s imbued with an austere structure reminiscent of Left Bank Bordeaux, while maintaining its fruit complexity. After 14 months in 20% new French oak, it’s struck the perfect balance. 

That’s a testament to the Finlayson family’s vast experience working Stellenbosch’s vineyards. Three generations of Finlaysons have helped shape the region’s winemaking landscape. Walter Finlayson, David’s father and two-time “South African Winemaker of the Year” winner, helped develop renowned properties like Blaauwklippen, Glen Carlou, and Hartenberg. David inherited his father’s winemaking prowess and has impressively carried the Finlayson torch with stellar releases like this absolutely gorgeous 2018 Stellenbosch Cab.