THE ENGELBRECHT family and their team have maintained Rust en Vrede’s reputation as one of South Africa’s top red wine cellars for the past 40 years or so, ever since the Stellenbosch estate began specialising in Cabernet and Shiraz, either in collaboration or on their own. All of these reds are Classified, with the Estate blend as well as the 1694 combination consistently among the most successful reds in their class, and recently the single-varietals have also been shining.

In the 2019 Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report compiled by Winemag, the Helderberg property excelled with an excellent review for the 2016 Single Vineyard Cab and an outstanding one for the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon from various vineyards on the estate. This after the 2015 Single Vineyard Cab had been highly recommended in Platter’s SA Wine Guide and on Winemag in 2018.

Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
WO Stellenbosch. From the estate vineyards, 60% of which are planted with seven different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. Drip irrigation when necessary. Dry winter and cool months at the beginning of summer resulted in berries 20% smaller than usual. Hand-picking and hand-sorting. Open-top fermentation tanks, with pump-overs and manual punch-downs two to four times a day. Matured for 18 months in 300L French oak barrels (20% new, 40% fourth-fill).
Alc 14.8 | RS 1.8 | TA 6.4 | pH 3.6
Producer’s Tasting Notes: a certain sweetness to the aromas packed with ripe, wild strawberry, red and black cherries, mulberries and black currant; earthy, savoury notes on both the nose and the palate; velvet texture, gravelly tannin structure and juicy acidity. Serve at 14° to 16°C.
Cellaring: up-front drinkability, but will age for 10 to 15 years.
R295pb at the cellar door.