Kanonkop Wine Estate Paul Sauer 2020

Fermented in open-top vats and aged 24 months in 100% new French Nevers oak, yet the wood is seamlessly absorbed, leaving no obvious trace. The nose offers blackberry, blueberry, ink and a cool mint lift, generous but well-defined. On the palate it's medium-bodied and almost unexpectedly juicy, with supple tannins and clean acidity that make it easy to underestimate the structure beneath. A thread of black pepper arrives toward the finish, where some genuine grip takes hold. At 13.2% alcohol, this is a sleeker, more lithe Paul Sauer than recent vintages, and all the more approachable for it. Excellent. Drink 2026–2038.