Journeys End V5 Cabernet Franc 2020
The Journey's End V5 Cabernet Franc 2020 has a beautiful fragrance of rich mix of fruit aromas, baked strawberry, cherries and ripe black fruits, supported by the oak and subtle tea leaf characteristics. Savoury palate with grippy tannins which are well-integrated with the rich red fruit notes.
GOLD 95 - IWSC 2022
Anthonij Rupert Optima 2021
ANTHONIJ RUPERT OPTIMA 2021
37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec
Tendrils of spice add nuance and allure to a nose packed with black berries, hedgerow fruit and some mocha notes. The palate is plush, rounded and pillowy but layered with dark fruitcake flavour, black cherry, baking spice and pencil shavings too. The mouthfeel is complemented by its overall stature and regal refinement. Balanced with seamless integration of oak and ripe, rich fruit with lovely succulence and freshness as well. Complex, supple and silky smooth, the wine is ultimately simply delicious with a superbly long tail
Meerlust Red 2021
Meerlust Red 2021
Tasting Notes
Youthful colour, deep and dense with garnet red hue. Red fruit and warm spice on the nose with some supporting oak notes. Still young and intense, the palate is full-bodied, structured but packed with fresh red fruit and soft rounded tannins.
Blend Information
36% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot
Ageing Potential
Ageing potential of 5-8 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.
95/100 Deano da Vino
Lazer like focus on red and black fruit, fresh pencil like spice, layered and complex for ageing or drinking now
Glenelly Estate Reserve 2017
Glenelly Estate Reserve 2017 is the signature red blend of Glenelly inspired by the classic Claret style of the 1700s, with Cabernet Sauvignon as its backbone, delivering rich cassis, mulberry, cedar, and tobacco notes. Syrah adds red and black cherry flavors with a touch of black pepper spice on the mid-palate. The wine is complex, layering intense fruit with mocha, Christmas cake, sandalwood, and leather. Fresh, fruity acidity balances firm tannins, leading to a clean, dry finish with strong aging potential.
GRAPE VARIETIES 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet franc
91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 2023: Silver Medal
90/100 International Wine Challenge 2023: Silver Medal
93/100 Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2021
Rupert and Rothschild Classique 2021
Rupert and Rothschild Classique 2021 is the second vintage to include Cabernet Franc in the blend, which lifts the texture making for a more elegant wine, although Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon still dominate the assemblage. This is Classique at it’s best and after 16 months in French oak and a few years in the bottle this vintage is singing! A complex and smoky nose starts off with roasted coffee, cassis, black cherry and earthy spice. The palate is medium to full bodied with seamless tannins and just enough acidity to retain freshness. There’s ripeness and richness on the palate, but it’s not overworked or overripe, it’s balanced and very well made. The wines of Rupert and Rothschild seem to get better with every passing vintage, and Classique 2020 certainly supports that theory.
92/100 Deano da Vino
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2022
The nose shows dark and red cherry.
Dark berries, spiciness and herbs linger on the palate. The wine has great purity of fruit with a hint of wet-stone minerality and a velvet soft finish.
Blend information: Crafted from 95% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec, this blend showcases the expressive character of these noble grape varieties.
Aging potential: Indulge in the Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2021 now for its exceptional drinkability, or allow it to evolve gracefully with cellaring for another 2 – 5 years.
Food suggestions: Pair this exquisite red with culinary delights such as pork loin with plum and Armagnac sauce, game bird with red wine sauce, or hearty dishes featuring Springbok, Ostrich, Kudu, Karoo lamb, or hard cheeses.
Most Recent Accolades:
2021 – 91 Points Tim Atkin MW
2020 – 91 Points Neal Martin MW Vineous
2020 – 91 Points Tim Atkin MW
Warwick Cabernet Franc 2022
Hartenberg The MacKenzie 2021
Hartenberg The McKenzie 2021
TASTING NOTES:
Enticing aromas of blackberries, fynbos, and a hint of dark chocolate on the nose. The palate showcases vibrant blackcurrants and raspberries, layered with smoky undertones. A plush, enveloping texture is balanced by fine, grippy tannins, culminating in a long, satisfying finish - a true masterclass in the craft of blending.
Decanting 2-3 hrs prior to service is recommended
4 ½ stars Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Finalist in 2021 Diners Club Winemaker of the year
Deano da Vino - I drank a 2013 in 2022 and it was off the charts so I feel the bottle lifespan has many more years than the producers recommendation, see FB post - https://www.facebook.com/groups/drinksawine/permalink/713494569675505/
Raats Red Jasper 2022
Raats Red Jasper 2022, is a blend of 49% Cabernet Franc, 35% Malbec, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Merlot and 3.5% Petit Verdot, we encounter an incredibly plush, luscious, approachable red blend brimming with earthy red berry fruits, aromatics of violets and sweet lavender, dried baking herbs and subtle notes of graphite and lead pencil. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied and plush, soft textured but also fleshy, creamy and deliciously accessible boasting toasty notes of black currant, damson plum and sour black cherries. A very compact and complete wine on release, this cuvee might not rise to the heights of the 2021, but in a funny kind of way, consumers desiring instant enjoyment now may actually love the 2022’s creamy opulence more than the bracing acid structure of the 2021. This wine simply gets better and better every vintage. Well done Bruwer!
93/100 GSMW (review c/o.)
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Food suggestions Venison dishes / lazy-aged sirloin or rib-eye / Hard cheese
TOKARA Director’s Reserve Red 2021
TOKARA Director’s Reserve Red 2020
The wine has stunning depth of colour with an intense garnet centre and a ruby rim. The nose showcases complex aromas of dried tobacco leaf, subtle violet flower, dried currants, baking spice and graphite. The wine enters the palate with incredible purity and
focus. Flavours are those of dark cherries, blackberries and ripe plum skin. Sumptuous and full there is a hint of spice on the mid-palate which leads to fine yet dense tannins and a lengthy finish.
This wine is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. The grapes originated from TOKARA’s premium vineyards on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain outside of Stellenbosch.
Food pairing: Grilled ribeye steak served with Béarnaise sauce, and potato Dauphinoise.
Constantia Glen FIVE 2022
TASTING NOTE
This wine has a vibrant and youthful dark ruby colour. On the nose, pronounced aromas of Morello cherries, ripe blackcurrant, and plums are elevated by a delicate fragrance of violets and dried herbs. Underlying savoury notes of tobacco pouch, cedar, and graphite add complexity and intrigue.
On the palate, the wine is rich and concentrated, with bold dark fruit flavours that are beautifully balanced by this blend’s inherent freshness. The fine-grained tannins provide a mouth-coating texture and wonderful persistence that creates a lingering finish. This wine is beautifully structured, showcasing a harmonious blend of dark fruit, elegance, and finesse. The wine comes across as tightly wound in its youth, but with all the potential for incredible ageing potential.
TECHNICAL DATA
A carefully crafted blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot and 9% Malbec, matured for 19 months in 80% new and 20% secondfill 225 litre French oak
barrels. Following barrel maturation, the wine received a very light filtration before making its way into bottle on 12 December 2023. With no fining agents used during the production of this wine, a harmless sediment may occur during maturation in the bottle. This is a classic and bold vintage of the Constantia Glen FIVE, which will continue to age and develop admirably in bottle for up to 10 to 15 years from harvest, under correct cellaring conditions.
Vilafonté Series M 2022
Series M 2022
Immersive & Engaging
Expect this vintage of Series M to provide increasing finesse and pleasure over time. It’s colour is deep, garnet-red colour with a dense centre. The entry is pure-fruited and focused, showcasing a vibrant medley of pomegranate, cranberry, raspberry, and blueberry compote. These are layered with sweet notes of crème brûlée and vanilla pod, complemented by intriguing hints of tarragon, cardamom, and a touch of savoury character. On the palate, the wine is broad and luscious from the first sip, with plush, crushed velvet tannins. The palate continues seamlessly from the nose, with abundant red fruits leading to a long, delicious finish.
While the 2022 Series M is remarkably complete in its youth, this blend will reward those who exercise patience as it continues to evolve and develop complexity. Enjoy now or cellar for two decades or more.
The Blend
22 months in 30% new French oak barrique, with the balance in older French oak.
Series M 2022 consists of Merlot (40%), Malbec (39%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).
80 barrels were produced.
