Hannibal 2020

Located in the cool valley of Hemel-en-Aarde, near the coastal town of Hermanus in Walker Bay, the Bouchard Finlayson estate benefits from a maritime climate tempered by the South Atlantic Ocean. The vines for the Hannibal cuvée are planted on well-drained slopes composed of clay-schist and decomposed sandstone soils, providing an ideal environment for Mediterranean-inspired grape varieties. The oceanic influence, cool breezes, and significant temperature variations promote slow ripening of the grapes and preserve the natural balance between aromatic concentration and freshness.

The grapes are harvested at perfect ripeness, and each varietal is vinified separately before blending. After destemming and gentle crushing, alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with regular pump-overs to extract color and tannins. Malolactic fermentation is carried out fully, and then the wine is aged in French oak barrels, a proportion of which are new, to refine the structure, add aromatic complexity, and harmonize the different varietals before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry , ripe plum , and red berries , complemented by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances of pepper and dried herbs, and subtle oak with hints of cedar and vanilla . On the palate, the texture is ample and silky, supported by fresh acidity , fine yet present tannins , and a persistent finish where fruit, spice, and a light mineral imprint mingle.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.