Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The nose is already quite developed, whereby lovely creme de cassis aromas are mingled in with hints of tobacco and leaves. Full-bodied and showing a core of still tangy ripe fruit. Very fine all around. Bordeaux blend.
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Wine & Spirits
This is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (58 percent), merlot and cabernet franc selected from two estate vineyards, L’Ormarins, the firm’s original farm in the high elevation of Franschhoek, and Rooderust, in Darling, eight miles from the Atlantic. It aged for 18 months in French oak barriques (35 percent new) and then for two years in bottle before release. One taster compared its big, round presence to a Super Tuscan, noting the woodsy cedar spice and a pleasant touch of pyrazines in the flavor. It’s oaky, earthy, smoky and warm, suited to a steak.
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.
Originally named Franschhoek meaning the “French Corner” because it was home to the influx of French Huguenots, today the valley contains many historic cellars and is an important tourist location because of its proximity to Cape Town.
This valley falls to the southeast of Paarl and is enclosed on three sides by towering mountains. Streams from the slopes flow down to the valley floor, converging to form the Berg River. The area excels in the production of full-bodied reds.