The Fledge & Co. Red 2014

Serve with rustic fare.

According to SAWIS, Touriga Franca was South Africa’s 79^th most planted variety with 2.54ha in the ground at the end of 2015, which makes the Red 2014 from Leon Coetzee-Margaux Nel initiative known as The Fledge & Co. particularly exotic, it being a blend of 45% Touriga Franca, 40% Touriga Nacional and 15% Syrah, sourced from around the Cape and matured in old French oak for 26 months.

Though the wine has a modest alcohol of 13.5%, it possesses the generosity you associate with Port varieties – more black than red berries, some floral perfume, earth and spice on the nose while the palate is rich and sweet-fruited, bright acidity lending balance, the tannins not too firm. An appealing drop which went particularly well with a plate of cassoulet. Price: R175 a bottle.

#WinemagRating: 89/100.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.