Morgenster Estate Reserve 2014

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for one hour and half. Located at the gateway to the Western Cape wine-growing region, Morgenster Farm has a long history dating back to 1708, when the estate fell under the possession of the Governor of the Cape. The modern wine business began in 1992 when the Piedmontese Giulio Bertrand acquired the estate to focus on the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The company name derives from the term in the local Boer dialect which means "star of the day". Morgenster's Estate Reserve wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in equal measure with additions of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. In the vineyard, the grapes are treated with particular attention to the vegetative cycle of the plant to ensure perfect ripening, with the advice of Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc. In the cellar, the winemaking process is followed by Henry Kotze von Morgenster. The finished wine then ages for 18 months in French oak barriques (60% of which are new). The wine shows a beautiful deep ruby-red color. The nose is fragrant, intense, and complex with aromas of plum, undergrowth berries, almonds, coffee, caramel, graphite, and cigars. On the palate, it is full-bodied, elegant, and round. The tannins are soft and the long lingering finish reveals a wonderful balance between acidity and minerality. Perfect with game and red meat stews.