The Jem is Waterford’s flagship Cape blend, assembled only in strong years from the estate’s best Helderberg parcels. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the spine and graphite-cassis drive; Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and small shares of other Bordeaux/Rhône varieties are woven in for perfume, mid-palate texture and spice. The result is a layered, poised Stellenbosch red that balances richness with freshness and a long, savoury finish.
Viticulture is parcel-specific: low yields, careful canopy management and picking keyed to flavour and natural acidity. Each component is vinified separately to preserve character, then matured in French oak used as a frame rather than a flavour—polish and length without overt toast. The final blend is about proportion and tone: dark fruit and violet lift, subtle cedar and cocoa nib, a cool herbal thread and fine, long-grained tannins.
On the palate The Jem is medium to full-bodied with a silky entry, a tightly knit core and precise, mineral length. Warmer seasons bring plusher black fruit and a velvety mid-palate; cooler years emphasise redder fruit, floral detail and a more chiselled line—always recognisably Helderberg in its poise and graphite clarity.
Serve at 16–18 °C in large Bordeaux stems; decant young bottles for 60–90 minutes to open the mid-palate and lift aromatics. Pair with roast lamb and rosemary, rib-eye with thyme, venison with juniper, mushroom ragù or firm cheeses such as aged Comté—the wine’s freshness and fine tannins keep richness in balance.
Cellaring is part of the promise. Most vintages begin to drink well from 5–7 years after harvest and, in strong seasons, evolve gracefully for 12–15+ years, trading primary cassis and violet for cedar, tobacco, truffle and sweet-earth complexity while the Helderberg line stays clear. If you’re searching for a benchmark Stellenbosch blend that marries elegance to depth, The Jem is Waterford’s calling card.
