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The De Toren Private Cellar is well-known for their Bordeaux-style blends, made in South Africa. The De Toren Z is a right-bank Bordeaux-style wine and the Fusion V is a left-bank Bordeaux-style wine. I recently tried the Fusion V of 2019 to see what this left-bank style had to offer.
Crafted in Stellenbosch, which is the ideal terroir for the noble five grape varieties in Bordeaux, and from which this wine derives its name, this wine offers a unique tasting experience. There are touchpoints with actual Bordeaux wines but I preferred to think about it more in terms of South African Bordeaux-style wines that offer a rich fruitiness and complexity that are contributed by the individual grape varieties.
In the glass, this wine had a deep ruby colour with a dark centre. On the nose, it offered a complex set of flavours, with black cherries, liquorice, sweet spices, tobacco and cedar that were forthcoming right away. It has a very soft entry that immediately engage with the entire palate. It delivers what it promised on the nose: blackcurrant, black cherries, oriental spices, sweet cedar, tobacco, plums and hints of raspberries. Although still a young wine, it had a good structure with silky tannins. After the first sip, a fantastic jammy blackberry and vanilla combination become evident through the Malbec (14%) that was aged in American oak. It finishes with liquorice and fruits, as well as some hints of perfume and a slight minerality.
This is a full-bodied, complex wine that will be best enjoyed any time from now to the next 25 years. It is the ideal wine for people who prefer fruit-forward Bordeaux blends and, therefore, it is ideal for all occasions, with or without food. I can imagine that this will pair very well with a roast lamb, chicken or oxtail with herbs. It is advised that you decant this wine for at least an hour before serving. This was a fantastic wine and I highly recommend it to any person wanting to try some of the best Bordeaux-styles that are on offer in South Africa.
Producer: De Toren Private Cellar
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 56.9%, Malbec 14.4%, Merlot 14.4%, Cabernet Franc 9.6%, Petit Verdot 4.7%
Vintage: 2019
Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Winemaker: Martin Fourie
Closure: Natural cork
Alcohol:14.48%
RS: 1.9g/l
Average price: R700
Rating: 95/100
