Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rose 2025

Delaire Graff sits high on the Helshoogte pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, one of the Cape's most striking estate sites. This rosé is made from Cabernet Franc, a variety that keeps its fresh acidity and leafy, red fruited character even in the warm Cape climate. The elevation of the pass brings cooler nights and a wide diurnal range that slows ripening and preserves aromatic lift. Unusually for a rosé, the wine spends around ten months in barrel, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood builds texture and a gently savoury complexity while the cool ageing keeps the fruit fresh. The colour is a pale to medium pink. The nose shows red berries, cherry and red currant, lifted by white flowers and a leafy, herbal note typical of Cabernet Franc. The palate is dry and rounded, fuller and more textured than a steel made rosé, with fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 10 to 12 degrees. It suits roast chicken, pork and richer fish dishes.