De Toren

De Toren is a small boutique South African winery that has propelled itself into the front ranks of South African wine producer in an absurdly short period of time. Proprietors Emil and Sonette den Dulk, escapees from the Johannesburg business world, "stumbled upon this little piece of heaven" on the Polkadraai Hills overlooking False Bay, in 1991.

They conducted extensive research before planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot and using as many as 13 different clones. A state-of-the-art gravity driven winery was built and the name De Toren (tower in Dutch), alludes to the way in which De Toren claims to be the only winery which follows a 100% gravity fed vinification process.

Albie Koch who has has traveled across many continents making wine, including at Domaine Capion in 1999 and leading winemaker Albie Koch was hired as winemaker. The first vintage was in 1999. Their flagship wine is the "Medoc"  Bordeaux blend Fusion V. This complex, profound and supremely well-balanced wine is already recognised as one of South Africa's finest Bordeaux blends.

Fusion V is named such because it is a blend of the only the best of the five red Bordeaux variatals that the estates produces. Made Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot - the final assemblage is created by a panel that includes wine makers, sommeliers and enthusiasts.

The Fusion Z label, first released in 2007, is christened after the name of a specific vineyard block, " block- Z". The varietals for Project Z were matched to the various soil types, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominant in the blend. This is a softer, more forward style wine than Fusion V.