Stark-Condé Oude Nektar 2014

Of the gods.

Oude Nektar is the new flagship wine from Stark-Condé in the Jonkershoek Valley ward of Stellenbosch. It’s a Bordeaux-style red blend dominated by the property’s highest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, this originally planted in 2003, enabling winemaker José Condé to make a small test batch of Oude Nektar in 2008, but the vineyard destroyed by fire the following year and the wine in abeyance until now.

Cab constitutes 73% of the blend, Petit Verdot 14% and Merlot 13%, the wine spending 20 months in French, 70% new. The nose shows red, black and blue fruit as well as a subtle leafy note with some vanilla and spice in the background.  The palate is full bodied and rich but balanced – sweet upfront yet savoury on the finish. Each sip provides waves of flavour which roll over the tongue. Plenty of heft but not overdone, it’s an accomplished offering. Price: R550 a bottle – to be released in early 2017.

#WinemagRating: 93/100.

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