Winemaker Notes
This classical wine has remained true to its composition since it was first produced in the 1990’s. A Bordeaux blend of note, dominated by Cabernet franc, amplified by Merlot and complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Blend: 49% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a polished and creamy red showing aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, baked plums and cherries. It’s layered and full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a long, fresh and focused finish. Sustainable. Cabernet franc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Taaibosch 2020 Stellenbosch Crescendo is a blend of 49% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in a combination of foudre, 225-liter French oak barrel and cement egg. The 2020 is the third vintage released under the Taaibosch name. The wine reveals savory Cabernet aromas with medium-rich concentration, blackberry, exotic spice and hints of dry sage. A smoky side comes through with barbecue and campfire ash. The wine is elegant, and the fine tannins are well managed. All the fruit comes from the estate, and 40,000 bottles were made.
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Vinous
The 2020 Crescendo contains more Merlot and less Cabernet Franc this vintage because one vat was picked too ripe—winemaker Shalk Joubert felt that it risked altering the style of the wine too much. It matured in 25% new oak for 14 months, then went into 75% foudres and 25% cement for a year. It has a glorious, wonderfully delineated bouquet with ebullient cranberry and raspberry scents, hints of dark chocolate and a touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied and pure with slightly grainy tannins and minty red fruit, beautifully balanced with a svelte and harmonious finish. Very stylish, this is a classy Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend that represents outstanding value for the money.
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.