Winemaker Notes
The iconic Left Bank-based blend from De Toren Fusion V is meticulously crafted from Bordeaux’s 'Noble Five' varietals and, with its complex flavors of licorice, black cherry, cedar and dark berries, it offers a stylish departure for sophisticated oenophilic tastes. Soft as spun silk, with a lingering hint of sweet fruit on the back palate, this is a wine that will only improve with age.
With nuanced and complexed flavors, our renowned De Toren Fusion V wine pairs exceptionally well with perfectly tender grilled or roast lamb, with garlic, rosemary and a hint of honey lemon.
Blend: 56.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% Malbec, 9.6% Cabernet Franc, 14.4% Merlot, 4.7% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This robust red marries an old-school profile of ripe currant, cured tobacco and toasty smoke flavors with modern flair, offering firm tannins that are deftly knit, plus flashes of melted licorice, candied violet, iron and milled white pepper. Long and supple on the fragrant, herb-laced finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sporting a new label, the 2019 Fusion V is bold and expressive with a rich and round mouthfeel. Medium to full-bodied, the tannic structure has a refined, gripping sensation that will remain food-friendly. It ends with a long, spicy finish and elements of bitter dark chocolate. Give it one more year in the bottle, and enjoy it over the next 12 to 13 years. Rating: 91+
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine needs a few minutes to open up. Once it does, earthy berries, hints of plums and light chocolate notes are revealed on the nose. Black fruit and hints of olive mingle on the smooth palate. There are notes of dark chocolate and mint in the finish. Supple tannins and moderate acidity are enough to provide a good structure.
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.