Hogan ‘Mirror For The Sun’ Cabernet Franc 2025 is Jocelyn Hogan Wilson’s beautifully perfumed, restrained expression of Cabernet Franc from the lower Helderberg in Stellenbosch.
The fruit comes from a 15-year-old trellised vineyard planted on granitic soils, just 2km from the coast. That proximity to the ocean is particularly important during Stellenbosch’s hot February and March months, helping preserve the freshness that has become one of the signatures of this wine.
The vineyard is carefully managed to avoid Cabernet Franc becoming excessively green. Leaf removal around the bunch zone allows additional sunlight onto the grapes, helping them ripen properly while retaining the herbal character that makes the variety so distinctive.
In the cellar, Jocelyn keeps things deliberately gentle. The grapes are sorted, crushed and fermented without whole bunches, using spontaneous fermentation in open-top fermenters. Extraction is minimal, just two punch-downs per day, before the wine spends nine months in older 225L French oak barrels.
It's Cabernet Franc about perfume, freshness and drinkability rather than sheer power.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright ruby red with excellent clarity.
Nose: Wonderfully aromatic, opening with red cherry and raspberry, followed by rose petals, garden herbs and a lovely crack of white pepper. It's floral and savoury without becoming excessively leafy or green.
Palate: Juicy, pure red fruit with excellent ripeness, balanced by bright acidity and soft, finely textured tannins. There's enough concentration to give the wine presence, but the overall impression remains elegant and energetic rather than heavy.
Finish: Fresh, savoury and persistent, with lingering red berries, herbs and subtle spice.
Awards & Accolades
95 Points — Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2026 94 Points — Christian Eedes
Technical Details
Producer: Hogan Wines Winemaker: Jocelyn Hogan Wilson Vintage: 2025 Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa Sub-region: Lower Helderberg Grape Variety: 100% Cabernet Franc Vine Age: Approximately 15 years Vine Training: Trellised Soils: Granitic Distance from Coast: Approximately 2km Whole Bunch: None Fermentation: Spontaneous / indigenous yeast Fermentation Vessel: Open-top fermenters Extraction: Gentle, approximately two punch-downs daily Maturation: 9 months Oak: Older 225L French oak barrels ABV: 14% Bottle Size: 750ml
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations: If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za to notify us of your intent to return the product. We will then guide you through the process.
Our returns policy is valid for 7 working days from the date of delivery. Unfortunately, if 7 working days have passed since the delivery of your purchase, we cannot offer a refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as when you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. A 10% Fee will be charged on returns, unless the product was damaged or incorrectly supplied by Mothercity Liquor.
Return Shipping & Delivery Fees
Please note that original shipping or delivery fees are non-refundable. Where a refund is approved, the refund will apply to the eligible returned product(s) only and will exclude any shipping or delivery charges paid on the original order.
Unless the return is due to an incorrect, damaged, or defective product supplied by Mothercity Liquor, the cost of returning the product(s) to us is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping and for ensuring that the products are securely packaged to prevent damage in transit.
We strongly recommend using a trackable and insured courier service when returning products. Mothercity Liquor cannot be held responsible for returned goods that are lost or damaged while in transit to us.
Where Mothercity Liquor supplied an incorrect, damaged, or defective product, we will arrange or cover the reasonable cost of returning the affected product, subject to the terms of our Returns Policy.
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
Cancellation requests must be submitted before your next billing date. If your payment has already been processed, that month's subscription will still be fulfilled and dispatched.
Subscription payments are non-refundable once they have been successfully processed, except where required by applicable South African consumer protection laws.
In the event that a product becomes unavailable, Mothercity Liquor reserves the right to substitute it with a product of equal or greater value.
Customers must be 18 years or older to purchase or receive alcoholic products.
