2012 De Toren, Fusion V, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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.

The ebullient Albie Koch, who has worked in many wineries across the world, was hired as winemaker and the first vintage was in 1999. Fusion V is their flagship wine; 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 varietals 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.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is South Africa’s best-known wine region, producing a wide variety of wines from leading estates, even though it accounts for less than 20 per cent of the country’s total production. Designated wards within the wine region are Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley and Papegaaiberg.

At 17,500 hectares, Stellenbosch remains the Cape's most famous and important fine wine district, thanks to its proximity to Cape Town, to the cooling influences of False Bay, its mountainous (ie Helderberg, Simonsberg), granitic topography and its centres of learning such as Elsenburg Agricultural College. 

It's notable for the refinement of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, especially from the likes of Glenelly Estate, Keermont Vineyards Oldenburg Vineyards, Raats Family and Anwilka

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.

In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and  Australia.