Le Riche Wines, Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon specialists for 27 years, have released the 2020 vintage of their flagship Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon on 3rd July 2023. The 2020 Reserve cemented its status as a world-class Cabernet with a splendid ‘Best in Class’ (97 points) accolade at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), the ultimate accolade attributed to the ‘50 Best Wines’ at this distinguished global benchmarking competition.
Now in its 20th year, the DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, breaking records this year with 18 250 wines evaluated from 57 countries. Judged by 236 top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its world-class judging panel and its rigorous judging process.
LE RICHE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020
A masterclass in the art of blending special Stellenbosch terroirs, the Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a statuesque expression of the very best Le Riche can make.
Vineyards and Winemaking: The Cabernet grapes were scrupulously selected from best performing vineyard parcels sourced from the Stellenbosch wards of Helderberg Coastal, Simonsberg and Helderberg Mountain. The vineyard blocks are micro-vinified separately up until final blending. Fermentation in open-top concrete fermenters, manual plunging to ensure optimal colour extraction, extended maceration to increase age-ability and the use of high-quality French oak (76% New French Oak for 24 months) ensure the pedigree of this distinguished wine. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wine matures in bottle for one year before release.
Tasting Notes: A wine in classic Cabernet style, the vibrant nose displays blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and cedar notes, which are mirrored on the palate. The wine is brooding and dense yet sophisticated and elegant. The palate is rich, velvety and opulent yet remarkably fresh and linear showcasing black fruit, a creamy mouthfeel and dark chocolate finish. The structure is powerfully firm with round, structured tannins. A wine with a wonderfully long, complex finish showcasing great potential for maturation; A true investment. One of le Riche’s best vintages yet.
Food Pairing: The Le Riche family best enjoy their flagship Cabernet with a great steak, especially fillet or rump, on the coals or grilled.
Awards: ‘Best in Class’ at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
Purchase: The Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is now available for purchase at the Le Riche Cellar, at specialist wine stores nationally and online at www.leriche.co.za for R950 per bottle.
Secure your Reserve 2020 while stocks last.
LE RICHE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON – A STELLAR WINE WITH AN ENVIABLE PEDIGREE
The coveted Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship of the range, is a statuesque expression of the very best Le Riche can make. Uncompromising vineyard selection and grape sourcing from Le Riche’s best performing vineyard blocks from Stellenbosch, the team dedicate the same level of scrupulous care to working with the grapes in the winery. The wine is opulent and generous, bold yet elegant, complex and layered with powerful yet refined tannins, a core of classic cassis fruit, subtle oak integration, a great freshness and excellent ageing ability. It is a wine where Le Riche spares no effort or cost to ensure a wine of outstanding quality and consistency. This is a wine made to age, a true investment. Reserve status is only endowed if the grapes and resulting wine measure up to an exceptional standard.
Over 23 vintages, the lauded Le Riche Reserve Cabernet has garnered massive reviews, high scores and ongoing international acclaim. In amongst many local and international accolades, including 95+ scores from Tim Atkin MW, Greg Sherwood MW and South African wine judge and critic Christian Eedes, this wine has received Platter’s pinnacle five-star rating ten times: for the 1997 (maiden vintage) 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007 Le Riche CWG Auction Reserve, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (current vintage). In addition, the Platter’s 2010 Guide named the 2005 Reserve Cabernet their Red Wine of the Year, and both the 2015 and 2019 vintages were awarded ‘Cabernet of the Year’ in the Platter’s 2019 and 2023 wine guides respectively. Le Riche’s tradition of Cabernet excellence was also reaffirmed when the Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 was awarded the Trophyfor Cabernet Sauvignon in 2021’s Global Fine Wine Challenge for New World Wine Countries. In addition, the runner up prize also went to Le Riche for their Reserve 2017, breaking a record as the first producer to be awarded both accolades in the same year.
Continuing the Le Riche legacy of Cabernet prestige, the Reserve 2020 vintage was honoured with a splendid ‘Best in Class’ accolade at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards, cementing its status as a world-class Cabernet, one of the 50 best wines in the world.
MORE ABOUT LE RICHE WINES
Vintage after vintage, the Le Riche family — first Etienne on his own, later together with his children Christo and Yvonne who have now capably taken over the reins — have made it their business to produce the definitive expression of a Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, to great acclaim. Combining decades of experience and knowledge, they meticulously select and source only the highest-quality fruit from the best possible terroirs Stellenbosch has to offer, working with a close network of trusted long-term, established wine farmers with unique vineyards.
Following their ethos of quality, elegance and consistency, their winemaking style is orientated around crafting the best Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignons, with minimal interference, letting the exceptional terroir speak for itself. The resulting wines show great elegance and class, consistently proving to be of superb quality and maturation potential.
Cellarmaster and Director, Christo le Riche’s passion for Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon drives Le Riche Wines’ search to better understand its region. He is also a founder and current chairman of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective, an organisation promoting the merits of the region’s Cabernets on a local and global stage. Following in his father’s footsteps, Christo also recently welcomed as a new member of The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG).
LE RICHE WINES
Address: 8 Raithby-Annandale Road, Raithby, Stellenbosch
Email: wine@leriche.co.za
Tel: 021 842 3472
Open for wine sales: Monday to Friday: 9:00 – 16:00
Tastings by appointment only
Closed: Weekends and public holidays
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