De Toren Private Cellar Z 2017

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour.

Founded by Emil and Sonette Den Dulk in 1994, De Toren Private Cellar is a boutique winery specializing in world-renowned Bordeaux-style wines. The vineyards are situated in the Polkadraai hills overlooking picturesque Stellenbosch, False Bay to the south, and the renowned Table Mountain to the west. The name De Toren (meaning tower) comes from the Dutch and refers to the structure of the cellar which allows gravity vinification. Their first wine was a Bordeaux blend with a predominance of Cabernet Sauvignon called Fusion V and released in 1999.

This powerful South African wine is produced from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grape varieties. The grapes grow in the coastal region on sand and granite soils where the vines dig their roots deep. Fermentation then takes place in small wooden vats at a controlled temperature. The wine is then aged for 12 months in oak barriques.

It is a powerful and round wine with a dense crimson color and garnet-red nuances on the edges. On the nose, the wine shows aromas of mulberry, plum, and blackberry, followed by notes of dark chocolate, spices, and tea leaves. It is a dry wine with excellent consistency and softness. The tannins are dense but velvety and the finish is long with pleasant mineral notes. It is perfect as an accompaniment to rich vegetarian dishes, with Beef Bourguignon or baked feta.