Winemaker Notes
Exceptionally intense and complex on the nose with blackberry, black cherry and bramble in abundance and subtle hints of forest floor, dark chocolate, aniseed and spicy tobacco. The walk in the Black Forest continues with blue and blackberry dancing on a tightrope with focus and concentration, following through onto a perfectly balanced, fine-grained, velvety palate. The finish lingers with hints of fresh mint, cinnamon and perfume. Complex and structured.
Blend: 53% Cabernet Franc, 36% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Still a baby, the 2021 Red Jasper is a blend of 53% Cabernet Franc, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The nose is tight, with red fruit essences swaying with notions of dusty florals, brown baking spices and spiced plum. Medium to full-bodied, the wine will have no problem filling its shoes over the next year, as it possesses gobs of complexity that uncoil on the palate before ending with a long lingering, spicy finish. Rating: 94
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James Suckling
Freshly brewed tea, pencil shavings, fresh and dried herbs and fresh blackberries on the nose. Wild blueberries, too. Medium-bodied with a firm and fine-grained tannin frame. Structured and elegant. 53% cabernet franc, 20% malbec, 18% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 2% petit verdot.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet Franc makes 53% of this blend and the rest is a mix of small amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. The nose reveals black fruit and integrated wood spices in the form of vanilla bean and cinnamon. Ripe flavors of plums and raspberries balance out baking spices on the palate and lead to a delightful finish. Cape Classics.
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.