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 is in a different price bracket to this real treat but is no less complex.
The wine
This wine should not be confused with Reyneke's Reserve Red which is 100% Syrah. This 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the same premium "Reserve" range of Reyneke wines is only the second of its kind. It took six years for the winemaker to produce a wine he was happy with before producing the previous vintage, the 2013. 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."
This 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
"The nose presents blackberry and black cherry aromas, followed by spicy notes and eventually opening up with darker undertones of cedar wood and black pepper. The palate is complex and layered with dark fruit and a fresh acidity on the midpalate. There is a clear graphite line, typical of the farms’ terroir, which runs through the wine. The wine is concentrated with juicy tannins and a seamless, everlasting finish.
The 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has an ageing potential of 10 years and more, if stored in the correct cellaring conditions."
Awards
93 points Wine Spectator Sep 2019
"Distinctive, with a multilayered profile, this red exhibits mulled black currant and açaí berry juice flavors, backed by a dense structure. Loam-tinted notes of bay leaf and tobacco emerge, while Earl Grey tea details mark the finish. Needs short-term cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2029"
