2010 South Africa

This South African Cabernet Franc offers intense notes of perfume, violets and herbs on the nose, complimented by subtle oak spiciness. Firm, grippy tannins support the fruit to add wonderful complexity and length on the palate. Flavours of black berries and plums linger on the finish. Matured 15 months in French oak barrels, 25% new.

It’s rare to find a wine made from 100% Cabernet Franc outside the Loire Valley; more often, the varietal is used as a component in Bordeaux-style blends. Here, however, one could almost argue that this 100% Cabernet Franc is the finest red wine in the Oldenburg portfolio.

The ‘Five’ is a reference to the blend of grape varietals that make up this wine, namely Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. 2010 was as near to perfect as it’s possible to be for cultivating grapes in this part of the world, with the harvest taking place even later than in the peerless 2009 vintage. The subsequent wine has a nose rich in blackcurrant fruit, black cherry, spice box and tobacco.

The palate is both rich and concentrated; with the dark fruit notes complimented by silky tannins and balanced acidity which lends freshness. The finish is lengthy and smooth with a mineral edge. This could benefit from a year or two in the cellar; however it’s already showing beautifully.

The 2011 Five blends together the five Bordeaux varieties (Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon) with great aplomb, creating a wine of sufficient richness and power to bring enormous pleasure to the senses, but, at the same time, an uncommon level of refinement and elegance at this price bracket. This is perfectly ready to drink now but will be impressive through to 2018.