2003 Vergelegen Flagship Red Blend

Stephen Tanzer
"93(+?) pts. ... a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% cabernet franc, from a single site; aged for two years in all-new oak) Good deep ruby-red. Primary aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and menthol; I was reminded of Napa Valley. Dense and silky on entry, then lush, ripe and sweet in the middle, but tightly coiled and vibrant. Cassis and licorice, as well as very smooth tannins, saturate the entire palate. This is almost deceptively approachable today but its sheer energy and impeccable balance suggest that it will gain in bottle for a decade or more. Van Rensburg considers 2003 a great vintage for this wine." --03/07

John Platter
"4.5/5 Stars ... Cape bdx-style blend immaculate fruit, alluring texture, suave tannins. Cab from relatively warmer Rondekop vyd, with 18% merlot & drop cab f in superb 03 (not retasted); beguiling, incipiently complex; showy oak (2 yrs new) shd integrate, if given the time."

Winemaker's Notes
"The wine shows a rich ruby colour with almost an opaque center. Cassis, pencil lead, spice and red berries, abound on the nose. Matured in new French oak for 24 months the fruit, tannin structure and fine acidity indicate a wine of balance and finesse reflective of the Vergelegen terroir."

Technical Notes
"76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 6 % Cabernet Franc. Working with concentrated fruit from low yielding vineyards (3 ñ 4 ton / ha), one has to be very careful not to produce over extracted wines. The juice is fermented with local yeasts and macerated for a further 3-4 weeks. Maturation took place in 100 % new 225l Sylvain barrels with at least 5 rackings over a 19 month period. RS 3.8 g/L; 6.7 g/L TA; pH 3.45; 14.5% alc."