Chateau Libertas 2021

Chateau Libertas has been made since 1932 and therefore celebrates its 90^th anniversary this year. While older bottlings have aged magnificently and are highly collectible as a result, it became very mediocre in the last decade or two. That finally appears to be changing, however. After the 2019 famously rated 92 in last year’s Prescient Signature Red Blend Report, I was prompted to try the 2021 and again it utterly over-delivers.

According to winemaker Bonny van Niekerk, it consists of 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 19% Shiraz, 15% Merlot, 9% Cinsaut and 6% Roobernet and all components were matured in tank on staves for some four to six months. 81 000 litres bottled to date out of a total 108 000 litres blended.

The nose shows a little reduction before red and black berries, flowers, herbs and spice while the palate shows good purity, bright acidity and fine tannins. Medium bodied and sweet fruited, it comes across as seamless and just immensely easy to like. Price: R55 a bottle.

Is it as good as the most ambitious red blends in the country? Can cheap wine rate as highly as expensive wine? Was Chateau Libertas of yore ever intended to last decades? Does the current release succeed precisely because it’s not over-done?

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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