Reserve 2003 5L
The most structured, elegant and complex of our wines, this ‘Bordeaux blend’ possesses finesse and ageing potential.
Created for the more serious wine connoisseur, our Reserve range aims to reflect our Simonsberg-Paarl terroir using grapes from selected vineyard blocks.
Complex fruit and wood balance comes through on the nose and palate. This is the best wine produced from Vrede en Lust’s 2003 harvest.
Awards
90pts Wine Enthusiast USA
Tasting Notes
Full bodied with a great concentration of cassis, blackberry, plums and cigar box on the nose. The firm tannin backbone supports a fruity, palate that leads to a sleek, ripe cherry, lingering aftertaste.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes were harvested from vineyards higher up the slopes of the Simonsberg. Extended maceration took place under strict temperature control. The Vrede en Lust Reserve spent 18 months in 225 liter French oak barrels – 75% new and the balance 2nd fill. Following blending the wine was bottle matured for a further 24 months. The wine is a candidate for release as Vrede en Lust Flagship and the owners make the final label decision at the end of 2006.
Cultivars
43% Merlot , 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec
Winemaker
Stephane de Saint-Salvy
Aging Potential
Drink now or through next 5-6 years
Food Pairing
Best with more serious steak or richer beef dishes.
