“Simply sublime, awesome even, and most definitely a vintage that will come to define premium quality Cabernet for years to come. A true classic that will richly reward bottle ageing.” -Greg Sherwood MW, 98+ points

Etienne Le Riche, often referred to as the ‘King of Cabernet’, has been pivotal in the story of South African Cabernet Sauvignon, consistently making some of The Cape’s best for over 35 years. His Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Reserve’ 2020 recently cemented its status as a truly world-class Cabernet with a ‘Best in Show’ trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the world’s largest wine competition, and in so doing, outperformed 18,249 wines entered from 57 countries! What is slightly scary is that the 2021 is a step up again, a wine of vertiginous depth, plush richness, power and beguiling charm, which is only produced in exceptional years. If this were a Napa Cabernet, it would be $300 a bottle and you would receive 3 bottles a year if you were lucky enough to be on the allocation list! Drink it now or stash it away for 10 years and allow its softer side to emerge. A blend of grapes sourced from around Stellenbosch, including 67% Helderberg, 22% Simonsberg and 11% Jonkershoek Valley, which were matured in 70% new French oak for 24 months. 14.5% alc. Drink now-2050.

Press reviews:

Greg Sherwood MW: “This highly anticipated 2021 release comes hard on the heals of the highly rated 2020 and 2019 from Christo Le Riche, and the impressive 2021 completes the trilogy of blockbuster vintages from this Cabernet specialist. Unwinding in the glass, the aromatics show delicately musky, perfumed notes of white flowers, crème de cassis, blueberries, black berries and freshly tilled earth hints that mingle with notions of dried herbs, thyme and fresh mint leaf, dried peach skins over graphite, granite dust and delicate dark chocolate cocoa spice nuances. The palate is beautifully silky and creamy, full and broad yet velvety soft and plush, voluminous but delicately elegant, finely detailed and weightlessly concentrated. Tight and compact, seductively seamless in the truest sense with an incredibly integrated acid fruit balance, a lively purity, and supple sweet tannins on the long, piercing finish. If 2019 had the muscle and power and 2020 the seductive elegance, balance, and accessibility, the 2021 is a stand apart expression, as unique as the vintage itself. Simply sublime, awesome even, and most definitely a vintage that will come to define premium quality Cabernet for years to come. A true classic that will richly reward bottle ageing. Drink on release and over the next 20 to 30+ years." 98+ points

Tim Atkin MW: “Tighter than the exuberant, ultra-perfumed 2020 was at the same stage perhaps, but this is another very impressive Reserve bottling from Christo Le Riche. Partnering grapes from seven blocks, it includes components from the lower Helderberg, the Simonsberg and the Jonkershoek Valley. Dense and deeply coloured, with 72% new wood, damson, fig and blackcurrant flavours and the concentration to age. Drink 2025-2042.” 97 points

The Wine Advocate (previous vintage): ”Profoundly impressive with a devastatingly gorgeous nose, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is an instant champion of Stellenbosch Cabernet. Offering a beautifully structured nose with layers of complexity, this stunning Cabernet is wrapped in elegance and finesse. Medium to full-bodied and made using about 75% new French oak, there is no shortage of hedonistic pleasure on the palate. As the wine uncoils - I know it's too young - I just can't put down my glass. Give it two or three more years in the bottle, and I bet you'll also have difficulty putting your glass down. Only 12,000 bottles of this world-class Cabernet were produced, and it will have no challenges aging for 30 years. Wow, what a stunning Cabernet! Drink 2026-2050.” 98 points

Decanter (previous vintage): “‘Things come, things go, fashions turn … but, year after year, Stellenbosch quietly gets on with producing some of the Southern Hemisphere’s most assured Cabernet Sauvignon. We had an example among our Platinum winners last year, so it was satisfying to see a Best in Show contender this year, and this graceful and accomplished wine didn’t take long to win its place in the Top 50. It’s dark black-red in the glass, with serenely curranty scents teased to perfect ripeness and lent dimension by oak without any overt woody stamp obtruding on that fruited charm. The wine exhibits a perfect combination of weight, muscle and energy in the mouth: it’s every inch the athlete. At the end of the palate, though, that singing, lyrical fruit returns before tapering off in a finish that leaves the mouth clean and fresh yet hoping for more. Spot on.’ 97 points and ‘Best in Show’