For over 300 years fine wines have been produced in the Cape at the southernmost tip of Africa and Warwick Estate proudly continues this tradition. Named ‘Warwick’ by Colonel Gordon after his Warwickshire regiment in the Anglo-Boer War, this Estate is situated in Stellenbosch in the heart of the fertile Muldersvlei bowl, and has been prime farmland since the 18th century. Stan Ratcliffe bought the Estate about 35 years ago and planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Perhaps it was fate, but the woman Stan married some years later turned out to have an unerring instinct for wine herself. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). Each component of this wine was harvested and aged separately. Only French oak barrels were used – 80% of which were old and 20% new. “Focused red, with taut vanilla, mineral, red currant, truffle and smoke notes. A bit tight in the middle, but the tannins are fine and there's plenty of length, with an extra wave of fruit on the finish, so let this open in the cellar.” Wine Spectator rated 90. Drink now. |
