Reyneke Organic Cornerstone 2017

Description

As a big fan of Reyneke wines, I have been following this wine for a number of years but waited until the 2017 vintage to add it to the portfolio as I think Reyneke Organic Cornerstone 2017 vintage is outstanding. Comprising 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot, the wine is matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, only 30% of which are new to avoid too strong an oak influence. It is a true Bordeaux blend from South Africa. And with the usual Reyneke non-interventional approach in the vineyard and in the winery this wine is complex. Reyneke Organic Cornerstone 2017 is a deep-coloured wine and as you might expect given the dominance of the two Cabernets black fruits dominate the intense aromas and flavours particularly blackcurrants & blackberries. But there is so much more going on – dark chocolate, cinammon, a distinctly mineral or graphite character plus floral and herbal notes including mint. The dry granitic edge is counter-balanced with a whoosh of mouth-watering acidity which stays on the long blackcurrant finish. The 14% Merlot adds some red fruit flavours and softens the tannins which give the wine backbone, making this a very approachable wine that can be enjoyed now or kept for a few years.

I have been eulogising not only the organic and bio-dynamic credentials of Reyneke wines but also their ethical credentials – and Reyneke Organic Cornerstone 2017 has to be the epitome of all three. Not only is Reyneke Cornerstone certified as organic and biodynamic but proceeds of this wine help Reyneke farm workers and their families with education, housing and retirement benefits. As the winery say “At Reyneke we believe that the workers are the cornerstone of the business, which is an integral part of the holistic and biodynamic principles, that Reyneke follows.” For a step up in Reyneke’s wine range, why not try  Reyneke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon?

For another beautiful South African blend, try iconic wine Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block.