The Producer
Steel Wines is the passion project of Jason Steel — MasterChef South Africa 2013 finalist, former sommelier and front-of-house star at Cape Town’s celebrated Test Kitchen and Foxcroft restaurants, and now a hands-on boutique winemaker. Jason’s journey from plating dishes to pressing grapes is a testament to his deep love of flavour and storytelling. Working with old-vine parcels in Robertson, he crafts tiny-batch wines that are unpretentious, expressive, and unmistakably personal. His Colombard 2021 scored 91 points from Christian Eedes at Winemag.
Vintage & Terroir
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are sourced from a 1999 vineyard on the Silverthorn property in Robertson. This region’s warm days, cool Breede River Valley nights, and limestone-rich soils produce Cabernet of real structure and elegance. The 2021 vintage delivered excellent ripeness with retained freshness — a hallmark of Robertson’s best reds.
In the Cellar
After a careful fermentation, the wine was matured for 12 months in old 500-litre barrels. Jason’s approach is minimal intervention — letting the vineyard speak through the wine. The use of older, larger-format oak ensures subtle seasoning without masking the fruit, resulting in a Cabernet of purity and finesse rather than brute power.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep ruby with violet highlights.
Nose: Red and black berries layered with herbal notes and violets — classic Cabernet character with a lifted floral perfume.
Palate: Medium-bodied with pure, focused fruit. Fresh acidity and fine tannins frame flavours of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and a hint of dried herbs. Slightly more structured than the 2020 vintage, with lovely depth.
Finish: Elegant and persistent, with fine-grained tannins and a savoury, berry-laced farewell.
Food Pairing
Brilliant alongside a classic lamb shank potjie, grilled ribeye with chimichurri, or a rich oxtail stew. It also pairs beautifully with aged Gouda, roasted root vegetables, or a hearty bobotie. Serve at 16–18°C.
Technical Details
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Region | Robertson, Western Cape |
| Grape(s) | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vineyard | Silverthorn, planted 1999 |
| Oak | 12 months in old 500-litre barrels |
| Closure | Cork |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Case Size | 6 bottles |
Our Guarantee
Every case of Steel Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is backed by our 100% Happiness Assured! Guarantee. If you’re not completely delighted, get in touch and we’ll make it right — no fuss, no fine print, just great wine and happy customers.
