Anthonij Rupert Cabernet Franc 2017

The Anthonij Rupert Cabernet Franc is one of their single Bordeaux varieties from the Franschhoek region where this variety is planted on decomposed granite. This wine farm is really proud of their single variety wines and the Cabernet Franc, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot is one of their top wines.

In the glass, this wine has a deep ruby colour with a dark heart with ruby up to the rim. On the nose, it presents ripe fruit flavours of black and red berries, plum and roasted pepper. It follows through on the palate with ripe red plum, blackberries, strawberries, fruitcake and chocolate notes. The fruitcake note in this wine is quite prominent and I can’t help to think of something better to serve at a Christmas lunch than this wine. The fruity notes are followed by some prominent tomato notes that compliment the ripe fruit flavours well. A pencil shaving note is also evident on this wine. It has a long finish of red fruit and chocolate. The tannins are very round and the mouthfeel soft.

This is a great wine and something that everyone should try, even if you believe that you are not a Cabernet Franc fan. It was crafted well, wooded for 18-24 months to add those secondary notes and complexity, and benefitted from the bottle age. Therefore, it is the perfect wine to open now and enjoy or to cellar for 10-15 years. I served it slightly cooled down in large Bordeaux-style glasses. This wine will be brilliant with lamb chops, made with rosemary and dill. And if at a Christmas table, even better! The price of this wine is slightly steep but it is certainly worth every cent! This is certainly a wine that will please your guests and is well worth a try!

Producer: Anthonij Rupert Wines

Variety: Cabernet Franc 100%

Vintage: 2017

Origin: Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

Winemaker: Dawie Botha

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: 13.5%

RS: 2.0g/l

Average price: R670

Rating: 97/100