As the saying goes, it never rains but pours! Well, that sadly seems to be the case in the Cape at the moment with very unseasonal storms and flooding deluging the winelands at the moment when mild Spring weather is supposed to be arriving instead. But there is another sort of deluging going at the moment as multiple new fine wine releases from South Africa hit the UK and EU marketplace in September and October in a fairly relentless fashion.
One such wine is the highly regarded Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which is only produced in the very best vintages. After the incredible success of the 2019 Reserve release last year which was named the Platter Wine Guide Red Wine of the Year, stocks naturally did not hang about for long. Then, just when Etienne and Christo Le Riche thought things might be a little easier with the 2020 release which was produced in larger volumes, Tim Atkin MW went and scored the wine an eye watering 99/100 in his latest 2023 South Africa Report, adding to a renewed feeding frenzy in the market.
One thing that is not in doubt is the pedigree and quality that is invested in the brand of Le Riche when it comes to premium Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. The world has already woken up to the fact that it is not just Bordeaux and California that can produced astonishing examples of pure Cabernet Sauvignon, and South Africa is now also in the running albeit at far more competitive consumer prices which especially resonates when you consider the quality in the bottle. I recently cracked the Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 and was once again pleasantly surprised. Could the 2020 live up to the hype of 2019?
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, WO Stellenbosch, 14.97% Abv.
1.6g/l RS | 5.7g/l TA | 3.78pH
The 2020 is a 65% blend of Helderberg Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Single Vineyard and 13% Helderberg Mountain Single Vineyard fruit that was aged in 76% new French oak barrels for 24 months. The Le Riche Reserve classification is endowed only on the very finest quality wines that live up to exceptional standards. This 2020 is a deep dark garnet-purple in colour and the aromatics take some time to unfurl in the glass before revealing an impressively flamboyant core of classical Cabernet Sauvignon fruit notes of pressed violets, black cherry preserve, earthy black currant, baked black plums with subtle hints of dark chocolate, graphite, iron filings, pencil shavings and hoisin plum sauce. Medium bodied and noticeably suave and elegant, the palate texture is fine grained and silky with an accessible generosity, creamy plush tannins, chocolate praline, wood spice and a long, showy, piquant salty finish that is compact, polished and impressively persistent. Etienne and Christo Le Riche think this is one of their best Reserve Cabernet’s produced yet, and considering its refinement and precision, they may well be right. Start drinking in 2 to 3 years’ time and over the next 15 to 20+ years.
(Wine Safari Score: 97+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Le Riche wines are imported into the UK and distributed to trade by Boutinot Wines and are available retail at circa £56pb from South African specialist merchant Museum Wines.
