Rust en Vrede Estate Red Blend 2018
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Rich cassis and mulberry with cedar and tobacco reveal Cabernet as the backbone to the blend, after which fresh red and black cherry with black pepper spice show the Syrah component. Intense fruit flavors are layered with mocha, Christmas cake, sandalwood and leather, bringing complexity to the wine. Fresh, fruity acidity balances the firm, coating tannins, culminating in a clean, dry finish that indicates good aging potential.
Blend: 61% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Syrah, 9% Merlot
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Wine Spectator
Fresh and focused, this medium- to full-bodied red features fragrant bay leaf and black pepper notes that accent ripe red currant and raspberry fruit, with hints of loamy earth and mandarin orange peel. Sleek and well-meshed, with fine-grained tannins emerging to firm the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now.
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In 1991, President Nelson Mandela awarded the Merit award of export achievement to the estate. During this period, they tirelessly worked on building the Rust en Vrede brand into a world quality product. These efforts were rewarded in 1993 when President Mandela selected Rust en Vrede to be served at the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize banquet.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.