La Bri Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
By Christian Eedes, 3 October 2025
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Can Cabernet Sauvignon succeed outside Stellenbosch? The Limited Release from Franschhoek property La Bri typically appeals on account of its restraint, the current release 2022 coming in with a moderate alcohol of 13.5%.
From a block planted in 1999, maturation lasted 24 months in French oak barrels. The nose is lifted with aromatics of red and black berries, a pleasant herbal edge plus hints of vanilla and pencil shavings while the palate is medium bodied but padded out by a little sweetness, good freshness, and velvety tannins that taper to a notably dry finish. Price: R400 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 91/100.
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
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Kwispedoor | 3 October 2025
Hi Christian
When I read that the wine has 13.5% alcohol, I thought that it sounds like my kind of Cabernet, especially if it’s bone dry and has a proper, even somewhat stern, tannic structure. Then you note that the palate is padded out by a little sweetness. This tempered my interest (if you had said “sweet fruit” or something similar, I would still have been happy enough, but it looks like you’re talking about actual sugar here. Only to then conclude with “a notably dry finish”… Would you mind clarifying this, please? It would be great if you could also say what the actual RS is.
Christian Eedes | 3 October 2025
Hi Kwispedoor, It’s a somewhat curious wine – RS is 3.5g/l so there’s definitely a “roundness” to the mid-palate; the tannins, meanwhile, are smooth yet the finish carries a surprising austerity.
IreneWaller | 3 October 2025
Hi Kwispedoor- to clarify the wines are all fermented dry – I think the sweetness referred to here comes from the fact that we included a small portion of the young block fruit (planted in 2015) which adds that perceived sweetness because of the fruit intensity of the young block.
The austerity comes from the old block tannins
Donald Griffiths | 6 October 2025
While I’m generally an admirer of this producer R400/bottle and 91 points suggests the smart buys are elsewhere.