Warwick Estate (South Africa) Trilogy 2000
Norma Ratcliffe and her son Michael are tireless advocates for the quality of Cape wines, and their two flagship bottlings back-up their claims. Trilogy is a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, whilst Three Cape Ladies is a ‘Cape Blend’, involving a healthy portion of Pinotage. For Trilogy, the three varieties are aged seperately in Nevers and Alliers oak barrels for 14 months before blending. The result is a beautifully composed wine, with a dense purple colour and an immediately elegant nose of creamy blackcurrant and crushed blackberries, a little cedary background and just hints of woodsmoke and chestnut. On the palate it has terrifically pure, sweet cassis fruit that is svelte and polished, set against fine-grained tannins and crisp acidity. That tobacco and smoky oak fills in on the finish, and this wine really does linger on the palate. A cracking Bordeaux-styled wine with copious fruit, at a very fair price. £9.99 Raeburn Fine Wines, Handford
