Tasting Notes
The story
I have been following - and stocking - Reyneke's ethically-, organically- and bio-dynamically produced wines since I set up Wines With Attitude.
Johan Reyneke is passionate about non-intervention in grape-growing and wine-making resulting in complex wines. The
Chenin Blanc and
Syrah are in a different price bracket to this real treat but are no less complex.
The wine
This wine should not be confused with Reyneke's Reserve Red which is 100% Syrah. This 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from the same premium "Reserve" range of Reyneke wines is the first of its kind. It has taken six years for the winemaker to produce a wine he was happy with. It is from a single vineyard on the south eastern slopes of the Polkadraai Hills, overlooking False Bay, and in Reyneke's words is "the best the Reyneke farm has to offer."
Matthew Jukes awarded this wine 20 out of 20 when he tasted it for Moneyweek. It really is amazing; imagine a top class Bordeaux wine, a Grand Cru, that has enough age to see the tannins softened to the point of hardly being noticeable yet still packed with soft black fruit flavours and aromas. It is very fragrant and the blackcurrants, blackberries and hints of red fruit and a little savoury smokiness continue through on the palate, filling the mouth with their ripe juiciness. The texture is like silk and the finish very long indeed; in fact it would be very easy to let this wine glide down far too quickly. It should be savoured. It is not a wine for everyday drinking - it's a real treat!
This wine can be enjoyed now but will keep for a few years yet. It is worth giving this wine chance to open up by opening the bottle an hour or so before starting to drink, by swirling the wine in your glass and by slurping in air as you taste it.
Food Pairing
A really good steak would be the perfect match for this wine. It will match a wide range of foods but don't go for anything too spicy that will mask the wonderful aromas and flavours. Or just pour and savour whilst relaxing.
Producer's Notes
"Upfront blackcurrant fruit with cassis notes overwhelm a perfumed nose. The palate is rich with depth and a layered complexity which will evolve and unfold overtime. The graphite like structure and subtle line of acidity add freshness to this wine. The finish is smooth, seamless and everlasting. The 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon will reward with prolonged ageing if stored in the correct cellaring conditions."
Awards
20/20 points Matthew Jukes, Moneyweek Dec 2017
"... The maiden vintage of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a truly stellar achievement. Fermented in concrete tanks and aged in new French barriques for 22 months, this wine is bloody, sooty, dark, exceptionally beautiful and also mesmerisingly brooding. The flavour is vividly imprinted in my memory.
I remember hugging Rudiger [the winemaker] and then grinning like a goon for minutes while shaking my head with complete disbelief. It is a 20/20 – the first perfect score I have ever given to a South African red."
93 points Wine Spectator Oct 2018
"A dark, brooding Cabernet offering layers of warmed fig paste, dark currant preserves and smoldering tobacco, backed by a broad swath of plush, cocoa-dusted structure. Has enough acidity inlaid through the finish to carry it off. A big wine. Best from 2019 through 2029."
93 points Tim Atkins 2016 South African Report
