Restless River
Restless River
Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa
Restless River is a small, but mighty, family-owned winery in the cool Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
Hundreds of years ago, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley was known as Attacquas Kloof. In 1760 the elder Wessel Wessels arrived with his family and set up home, becoming the first European settler to live and farm in the valley. Some historians say it was Wessel who called the valley Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth). Fast forward a few hundred years, when husband and wife Craig and Anne Wessels started planting part of the family farm in 2004, launching the Restless River label in 2012 to continual critical acclaim. They quickly made a name for themselves, and the cool climate, higher altitude Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, with their coveted, world class wines. The farm has some of the oldest Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay in the Hemel-en-Aarde, with vines first planted in 1999.
AVAILABLE WINES
Address: Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa
Website : www.hemelenaardewines.com/restlessriver
Restless River
Restless River
Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon
They have the oldest plantings of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in the valley, dating back to 1999, and still one of the only working with Cab Sauv in this cool region. Main Road and Dignity are two single vineyards, with slopes of gravel and koffeklip soils over decomposed granite clays. This was destemmed and native fermented in small open top oak vats, with a lengthy maceration followed by basket pressing. This then went into French barriques (25% new) where it rested undisturbed for 23 months. It was then racked from barrel to stainless for a short tightening stint prior to bottling, and 2 more years' rest prior to release. Iron-laced black cherry, black plum lead the structural and savoury palate, filled out with tobacco, anise, crushed dark florals, and graphite. Cedar-scented tannins are appropriately firm, framing this serious cab. The freshness of site and soils easily lifts the full 14.5% through a lingering dusty stone finish. Really impressive. 7765 bottles.
“Named after two blocks of grapes on the Restless River estate, this big, chewy wine offers a large nod to the great Cabs of the Napa Valley. Dark chocolate and stewed plums on the nose, followed by mulberry, strawberry compote, graphite and dense fruit cake. Big, but beautifully framed. Those who say that the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley isn't suited to Cabernet Sauvignon clearly haven't tried Main Road & Dignity.” - 92 points, Chris Wilson, Decanter.
Read about Restless River here.
Vintage: 2018
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $88
Style: Still
Region: Western Cape
Appellation: WO Hemel-en-Aarde
Country: South Africa
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes