Le Riche shows again that Stellenbosch Cab among very best
THE LE RICHE cellar has always been there or thereabouts when considering South Africa’s leading producers of Cabernet Sauvignon over the past decade or so! However, the last three years have been particularly successful for the family, with rave reviews from critics locally and internationally, culminating in victory at the Global Fine Wine Challenge in Sydney where the 2018 vintage of Le Riche Reserve was judged to be the best Cab on show. Moreover, the 2017 vintage was placed second – the first time that such a ‘double’ has been achieved in the history of the Challenge.
The taste-off Down Under, previously called the Six Nations Wine Challenge, involved the wines of five countries also including the USA and Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Effectively, this was a case of Stellenbosch Cabernet favoured over some of the finest examples from Napa, Margaret River, Coonawarra… And convincingly so!
The 2019 edition of Platter’s SA Wine Guide featured the 2015 Le Riche Reserve as the tasters’ choice of top Cabernet Sauvignon during the preceding year, and at the end of 2019 the Helderberg heroes won a double gold medal with this wine at the Six Nations Challenge. In 2020, the 2017 vintage of the Reserve was scored 95 points in a Winemag Report (SA) before going on to get 5 Stars in Platter’s, and come 2021, the 2018 Reserve was a gold medallist at the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK) as well as a 5 Star laureate in Platter’s before the Global Fine Wine Challenge winners were announced.
The 2018 Reserve marks a change of generation and a change of packaging, with the signature of retired patriarch Etienne le Riche that used to be alongside that of his son and successor as cellarmaster, Christo, replaced by that of Etienne’s daughter and Cape Wine Master Yvonne who, besides running the export and logistics side of the business, plays a critical role as an exceptional taster on the team at the blending stage of the winemaking process. The tweaked labelling adorns a slightly shorter, squatter bottle with a deeper punt relative to the previous version.
Also new at Le Riche is the introduction of an ‘Ocean’ and a ‘Mountain’ Cabernet, two special releases, both 2018s. Limited quantities, also R780pb, available only to club members and from the tasting room. Both are components of the Reserve, “showcasing the effect the Ocean-versus-the-Mountain has on the grapes and the final wines,” says commercial director Francois le Riche. “Not a single vineyard selection, but rather site-specific wines.”
• For door-to-door delivery of this award-winning wine in all major centres of South Africa, click here to order from specialist wine shop Norman Goodfellows.
LE RICHE RES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018
WO Stellenbosch: Firgrove (31%), Jonkershoek (31%), Raithby (24%) and Simonsberg (12%). Vines between 10 and 24 years old, located between 4km and 26km from the Atlantic Ocean. Hand-selected grapes. Fermentation involved selected yeast strains, temperature-control of the tanks and manual punch-downs for optimal colour extraction. Secondary fermentation in barrel. 24 months in French oak barrels, 76% new.
Alc 14.9 | RS 1.4 | TA 5.6 | pH 3.8
Tasting Notes: Classic aromas of blackcurrant and cassis, complemented by hint of violet, with pencil shavings and cedar adding to overall complexity and sophistication. The palate is rich and velvety yet fresh, showing cherry and dark chocolate. Firm acidity and structured, juicy tannins. Lingering finish. Power to get even better with time.
R780pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch.
LE RICHE RES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017
WO Stellenbosch: Firgrove (32%), Simonsberg (26%), Raithby (25%) and Jonkershoek (17%).
Alc 14.5 | RS 1.6 | TA 6.1 | pH 3.6
Sold out at the cellar.
