Waterford Antigo 2021

The Waterford Antigo 2021 is a distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon-led red blend created to showcase a very specific part of Waterford Estate’s Helderberg terroir. The wine takes its identity from Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the red clay soils on the eastern side of the estate, producing a markedly different expression from Waterford’s more structured Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Interestingly, less than 300 metres separate the vineyard blocks used for Antigo and Waterford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite their proximity, the soils produce noticeably different wines. The clay-rich Antigo site delivers sweeter fruit, greater plushness and softer, more velvety tannins, while Waterford’s stonier Cabernet sites tend towards darker fruit, earthiness and firmer structure.

The 2021 blend comprises 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot, matured for 20 months in French oak, of which 25% was new.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep ruby-red with youthful crimson highlights.

Nose: Generous and immediately inviting, with plush redcurrant fruit, ripe berries and subtle tobacco accompanied by creamy oak sweetness. With air, hints of cassis, black cherry, graphite and gentle spice add further complexity.

Palate: Rich and beautifully polished. Ripe red fruits form the core of the wine, supported by fresh acidity and supple, fine-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, while Petit Verdot and Merlot contribute additional depth and roundness. The overall impression is plush and generous without becoming heavy.

Finish: Long and textured, with lingering red fruit, subtle tobacco, sweet oak and a fine mineral edge. The tannins are noticeably softer than those found in many traditionally structured Stellenbosch Cabernets.

Awards & Accolades

The 2021 vintage has received excellent critical recognition:

• 92 Points – Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Special Report 2024
• 4.5 Stars – Platter’s Wine Guide 2025
• Silver Medal – Fine Wine Awards 2025

What Makes Antigo Different?

Antigo is particularly interesting because it demonstrates the influence of soil within a single estate.

The Cabernet Sauvignon used for Antigo grows in Waterford’s red clay soils. These retain moisture and provide a different growing environment from the estate's higher, rockier Cabernet sites. Waterford finds that the resulting fruit produces a softer, sweeter-fruited and more plush style of Cabernet Sauvignon, with velvety rather than aggressively dry tannins.

This makes Antigo particularly approachable in its youth while still retaining the structure required for bottle maturation.

Technical Details

• Producer: Waterford Estate
• Wine: Antigo
• Vintage: 2021
• Country: South Africa
• Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
• Terroir: Helderberg Mountain
• Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot
• Soils: Red clay
• Harvesting: Hand-harvested
• Fermentation: Approximately 18 days
• Maturation: 20 months in French oak
• New Oak: 25%
• Alcohol: 13.3% ABV
• Residual Sugar: 2.05 g/L
• Total Acidity: 5.62 g/L
• pH: 3.59
• Winemaker: Mark le Roux
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Closure: Cork
• Ageing Potential: Approximately 5–15 years from production