Reyneke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Black beauty.

One of the most exciting wines of Cape Wine 2018 so far has been, would you believe, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch, to wit the Reyneke 2015.

Whereas the 2014 from this biodynamic producer was “funky” (and I’ve got winemaker Rudiger Gretschel’s permission to say so), the 2015 is so very attractive.

Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1994, the wine was matured for 20 months in French oak, 100% new. On the nose, red and black fruit, olive, herbs, rose and violet plus some pencil shavings. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and wonderfully supple tannins, the finish long and super-dry.

Nothing too dense or too forceful and in that sense quite far away from Bordeaux, Napa or even some of the more ambitious examples from Stellenbosch itself. Price: R850 a bottle.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

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