Late-ripening vintage results in refined elegance of Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2022

A profoundly wet, cold winter in 2021 and a slow start to the growing phase with grapes ripening later than usual on the vineyards of Kanonkop Estate has resulted in the just-released Paul Sauer Bordeaux blend from vintage 2022 showing a stately elegance, with its usual regal power complemented with a discernible refinement. The 2022 vintage of Kanonkop’s flagship Paul Sauer wine is not only characterised by the slow, later ripening fruit, but also by its composition. The three-way blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which was first released fromthe 1981 vintage, sees the rendition from vintage 2022 showing the largest Cabernet Franc component in the history of this blend.

Traditionally a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the Paul Sauer 2022 comprises 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc and 17% Merlot.

Francois van Zyl, Kanonkop head-winemaker, says the building blocks of each Paul Sauer are determined by the inherent characteristics shown by each of the three varieties during a specific vintage and their abilities to combine in expressing optimal Kanonkop terroir through the Paul Sauer blend.

In composing the blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc components were blended after malolactic fermentation in each varietal had completed. The complete blended young wine was placed in new 225L French oak barrels. As per each vintage of Kanonkop Paul Sauer, barrel-aging was done for 24 months.

If stored correctly, this wine will mature gracefully for 20 – 25 years.

The new vintage of our iconic Paul Sauer red blend will be available for tasting at our cellar door from Tuesday 1 July 2025.

As a valued Kanonkop customer, we would hereby like to invite you to visit us and taste the new vintage of Paul Sauer, as well as the rest of our current range.

It will also be available to order online from 1 July 2025. Customers will have access to an allocation of 12 bottles of the 750ml, plus 1 bottle of the 1.5L magnum. Please allow 4 – 5 business days for delivery of all online orders.

Kindly note that the online store will only allow you to purchase a maximum of 12 bottles – thereafter the product will no longer be visible as part of the assortment.

If you have any queries, please email wine@kanonkop.co.za