Landskroon Cabernet Franc Merlot

Landskroon Cabernet Franc Merlot 2020

Landskroon is situated on the Southwestern slopes of the Iconic Paarl Mountain with Table Mountain on its Southern horizon. The estate has been owned and managed by the De Villiers Family for 5 generations. The Cellarmasters were all called Paul and the current incumbent Paul de Villiers 5 is building on the traditions of his four predecessors by creating a range of serious wines using the clever modern vineyard techniques of his brother Hugo and improving constantly on his own winemaking skills. All this shows in the bottle.

Landskroon’s Paul & Nelie de Villiers

Interesting that Landskroon were pioneers with Cabernet Franc in South Africa.

Cabernet Franc ripening on the vines

Cabernet Franc is one of the noble grapes of Bordeaux. It is also a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon as result of a vineyard crossing with Sauvignon Blanc a couple of hundred years ago.

Record of the 1979 Harvest taken by Paul de Villiers IV

Paul IV’s harvest records from 1979 show that 5 tons of Cabernet Franc were harvested that year, though Paul V thinks his father made the mistake of putting March instead of February. While Paul V cannot remember when they stopped producing a single variety Cabernet Franc, a decision taken when the family felt they had too many red wines in the range. Many years later they started making a Cabernet Franc Merlot blend which is still a part of the range of reds offered by Landskroon. A wine much loved by their customers.

Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2020

In 2006, the purchase of a new bottling line able to apply screwcaps, the family decided to make what Paul V describes as a ‘lekker drinkwyn.’ The blend, which became known as the Paul Hugo Red, consisted of half Cabernet Franc, 30% Shiraz and 20% Merlot.

In the Cabernet Franc Challenge of 2022 the Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2020 was The Best Value Winner and it took a Gold Award.

The 2020 Landskroon Cabernet Franc Merlot is made up of Cabernet Franc 56%, Shiraz 29%, and Merlot 15%. The 2021 Vintage, soon to be bottled is a slightly different blend, with Cabernet Franc 50%, Merlot 35%, and then 5% each of Malbec , Petit Verdot en Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul Vtells that the 5% components really complement the wine by adding another dimension to the previous vintages.

Landskroon Cabernet Franc 1979

Landskroon Cabernet Franc 1983 – the gold sticker on the neck denotes a Superior Wine

Awards won

Top Value SA 2021 – Uber Value

Landskroon Cabernet Franc / Merlot 2019

Cabernet Franc Challenge 2021

Landskroon Cabernet Franc/Merlot 2019 – Top 3 Blends

Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2019 – Silver

Cabernet Franc Challenge 2022

Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2020 Value Winner and a Gold Award

Landskroon Super Frelons Helicopters Cabernet Franc 1983 – a special bottling

The Estate also bottled a special Cabernet Franc for Super Frelons in 1983. Super Frelons Helicopters were in use in the South African Army at the time.

Not a bad result for a wine they stopped making….

My notes for the Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2020 read, ‘In the glass, the wine is an opaque plum in colour which pales out to ruby at the edges. This Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Merlot blend has aromas which segue into the palate. Red and black and blue berries, cherries, and plums. Beautiful acidity line from entry through the full mid-palate and well into the smooth well balanced aftertaste. A quaffer to be taken seriously. Made for now drinking and into the next 3 to 5 years.’

Notes from my discussions with Paul de Villiers

Paul de Villiers IV with his mother Madelief in a Landskroon lupin field