Lanzerac Cabernet Sauvignon 1957
By Christian Eedes, 1 August 2018
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Yesterday a tasting of old and rare wines under the Lanzerac label held in Distell’s wine library known as The Tabernacle that the present-day Lanzerac Wine Estate is investigating purchasing. Wines opened included the 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1969 vintages of Pinotage; 1957, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1968 vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon; and miscellaneous white wines. It should be noted that some wines were out of 375ml bottles and ullages varied considerably, leading to significant bottle variation.
The star of the show was the Cabernet Sauvignon 1957. The colour was dark red with just a little amber tinge to the rim, no longer opaque but still clear and bright. On the nose, red fruit, mushroom and spice while the palate was medium bodied and beautifully balanced, still very much alive with layers and layers of flavour, the finish long and savoury.
Somewhat academic to score such a wine – suffice to say, that many of those in attendance thought it would hold its own against the legendary GS 1966.
Adriana Toledo | 5 March 2020
I have one 1957 lanzerac Cabernet. Any one interested?
Kwispedoor | 1 August 2018
Hi, Christian.
I think it’s academic to score any wine, but arguably more academic to score young wines that are not at their peak yet and that nobody knows with any certainty how they will develop into maturity.
If a mature beauty comes along and hits out the lights, having become all that it was destined to be, I think it should be scored on merit (as far as that is possible) and given its dues. Why not score an old beauty 97 or 100 or whatever if that’s how good it is? I agree that there is no real point in scoring the dodgy or iffy old bottles, but we need to shine light on the incredible heritage and pure hedonistic joy that SA’s best old wines offer. Some of them are truly world class.
I would love for you to write in more detail about some of the other good bottles on this tasting.