2022 Warwick First Lady Red Cabernet Sauvignon
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Appellation | Stellenbosch (Appellatie) |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13.5%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2028 |
- Buy 6 for 9.95 8.22 each and save 5%
Description
Close to Stellenbosch, on the way to Paarl is Warwick Estate . This winery has a long history dating back to the year 1791. In the time between 1791 and 1920 it had a different name and was called "Good Succes". This name was changed to Warwick by the then owner Alexander Gordon after the Warwickshire regiment in which he served. In 1964, Stan and Norma Ratcliffe purchased the property and began planting Cabernet Sauvignon. At that time they sold the grapes and did not use them for their own production, even though Norma wanted to. She studied winemaking and a wine cellar was built. The first Vintage from Warwick was 1984. Stan and Norma's son Mike has been at the helm of the company for several years. He is helped by winemaker Louis Nel.
The Warwick vineyards are located in Stellenbosch and are almost all found on the foothills of the Simonsberg. The altitude of the vineyards varies from 240 to 360 meters above sea level. This is ideal for viticulture, because the grapes then benefit from cooling due to the altitude. The grapes are picked at optimal ripeness. After destemming, the skin maceration and alcoholic fermentation start. The wine is then aged for 17 months in oak barrels. No new oak is used to preserve the fruity character of the wine. Warwick wines are organically produced (not certified) which means no fertilizers, chemical pesticides or pesticides such as herbicides are used. At Warwick they go one step further and the sun and moon phases determine the harvesting and pruning work.
Taste: Nice full mouth with ripe tannins and flavors of coffee and cherries with a firm aftertaste.
Smell: The nose is dominated by aromas of chocolate and almonds.
Storage: A wine to drink immediately, but can be kept for at least a few years.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Appellation | Stellenbosch (Appellatie) |
| Winery | Warwick |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2028 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | Tier Price |
| Tasting Profiles | Dark fruit, Dry, Fruity, Flexible |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Borrelen, Met vrienden, Open haard, Voor alledag |
Wijnhuis
Without any exaggeration, we can say that Warwick Estate is today one of the leading wine companies in Stellenbosch, and even in South Africa. That, of course, does not come out of the blue. In the first place there is of course the special terroir, in a unique place: directly to the west of the monumental Simonsberg, the high mountain that dominates the region and which also determines the climate of the region.
Warwick Estate is located in a valley enclosed by the Simonsberg, Kanonkop and Klapmutskop. The historic farm, now called Warwick, was called 'Good Success' from 1791 to 1902. After the Boer War, the farm was bought by Colonel Alexander Gordon, who baptized him 'Warwick', after the army unit he served for, the Warwickshire regiment. Later the company fell into disrepair and when it was taken over by Stan & Norma Ratcliffe in 1964, there was no sign of a grape. Stan and Norma soon realized that they had acquired a special terroir for wine growing and it was not long before they decided to plant cabernet sauvignon, a grape really made for this region. These cabernet sticks yielded high quality grapes, which were in great demand among traders and other wineries for making great wines. Norma herself became more and more interested in wine making and decided to follow a training as a winemaker. Norma and Stan decided to build a cellar and in 1984 the first 'own' Warwick wine was born, a Cabernet sauvignon. Norma turned out to have the talent to make great wines and the production could increase year on year - both in quality and quantity. The Bordeaux blend Trilogy, which was launched in 1986, quickly became one of the major flagships of South African wine growing. This was emphasized when he was chosen by South African President Thabo Mbeki to be served at an official dinner for President George Bush. It is a recognition of the rare qualities of the Warwick winery. Meanwhile, winemaker Norma has stepped back after 20 years, and has been succeeded by Louis Nel, who is widely regarded as one of South Africa's most talented winemakers. And in 2001, Mike Ratcliffe, son of Norma and Stan, was appointed general manager. He graduated from the University of Adelaide with a degree in wine marketing. This makes Warwick fully equipped for the future.