Delaire Graff Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013

Winery: Delaire Graff Estate

Winemaker: Morne Vrey

Region: Stellenbosch

Background:  Prescient (a Financial Services Company) and Winemag.co.za have two annual cultivar specific competitions, one concentrating on Chardonnay and the other on Cabernet Sauvignon and both are led by well-known wine writer and formidable wine taster, Christian Eedes. The latter, The Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2016, now in its fifth  year and gaining momentum as wineries see huge value in single cultivar challenges. Each year 60 wines are selected and judged by a panel headed up by Christian and includes respected tasters Roland Peens and James Pietersen. Using the 100-point scoring system the results showed 12 wines receiving 90 points and over with two of the wines receiving the top score this year of 94 points which included the Delaire Graff Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013.

Morne Vrey, Delaire Graff’s passionate and energetic winemaker is producing excellent wines from his state of the art cellar which must be one of the most advanced cellars in the Southern Hemisphere. Morne’s philosophy with wine making is “let the grapes do the talking, never stop trying new things and play the right cards at the right time during the winemaking process, to end up with something great”. With both local and international experience there is no doubt that Morne is achieving this at Delaire with many accolades and awards tucked under his belt. The Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013 is his sixth vintage of this varietal so obviously delighted to have received 94 points in this year’s competition. After harvesting, the grapes were hand sorted and then whole berry fermented, after which the wine was matured in 80% new French oak with the rest in 3rd fill barrels.

Result: The wine is full bodied having savoury rich blackberry flavour along with
lingering plums on a well-rounded silky finish. The complexity will allow the collector to mature the wine for at least another ten years from vintage when the integrated flavours will be at their very best!

When to drink: Now till 2026

Drink with what:  Slow cooked shoulder of Lamb

Expect to pay: R435.00