2015 Main Road & Dignity

Craig Wessels welcomed me to his winery in Hemel-en-Aarde where he recalcitrantly produces Bordeaux-inspired Cabernets under the “Main Road & Dignity” brand, as well as Le Luc, a single vineyard Pinot Noir that incorporates around 30% whole bunches. “The 2021 vintage had a long hang time with healthy fruit and good acidity, low on the alcohol side. It is the most minerally in terms of Chardonnay,” he tells me. “You need a long time, often around 140 days for Cabernet. Trouble is that birds and baboons feast on the hanging fruit.” Wessels’ wines are well worth hunting down and, judging by the performance of older vintages opened, are predisposed to repay time in bottle.