Yardstick A Gauche Selection Tradditionnelle 2023

	Stunning red Stellenbosch from Adam Mason
	With a nod to the famous left bank
	Harvested in Grand Cru vineyards

Description
The À Gauche from Yardsticks winemaker Adam Mason is not only a stunning red Bordeaux blend, it also has a remarkable story behind it. The wine is Adam's Cape interpretation of the famous Bordeaux wines from the Médoc and a tribute to us Dutch.

Now you're probably wondering what the Dutch have to do with South Africa and Bordeaux. Well, it was Dutch colonists who brought vitis vinifera to the Cape in the 17th century and established Constantia. It was also Dutch engineers who drained the swampy Médoc, making it suitable for grape cultivation.

Adam makes the wine—just like in the Médoc—predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon. He harvests the Cabernet in the renowned Helderberg region, about eight kilometers from False Bay, in prime vineyards with soils of weathered granite and clay. He complements the blend with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and (unlike in Bordeaux) a touch of Syrah. These grapes come from steep-slope vineyards near the Stellenbosch Mountain Range, with red, iron-rich clay soils.

In the cellar, Adam processes the different grape varieties separately. After fermentation, the wines are aged for about eighteen months in French oak barriques. Adam then blends the various components into the harmonious À Gauche, in which the power and structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon are perfectly complemented by the perfume and spice of the other grapes.

Adam himself says of his wine: "My intention was to capture the ripeness of the Cape summer while simultaneously doing justice to the essence and refined texture of classic Bordeaux varieties." In our opinion, he has succeeded with flying colors. What an impressive and elegant red wine, with notes of cassis, plum, and cedar, a ripe, creamy, and powerful flavor, and an endless finish. It certainly lives up to its name, À Gauche, which refers to the famous Left Bank.

Drinking at
A magnificent, oak-aged red wine to enjoy on its own or as a delicious accompaniment to a meal. Delicious with grilled or barbecued meats, sirloin steak with garlic chips, lamb chops with fried zucchini, or aged Dutch cheeses.

Tasting note
A deep ruby-red wine with a seductive aroma of blueberries, blackberries, plums, cedar, and pencil shavings. The palate is full and creamy with lovely freshness and firm, ripe tannins. A long, expansive finish unfolds with notes of toast and laurel.

Shelf life
Beautiful now; easily kept for up to 10 years after harvest date.