After the spectacular news at the end of last year, about our ‘New World Winery of the Year’ nomination by Wine Enthusiast, for the second time since 2011, we really didn’t think 2018 could top 2017… But boy, were we wrong!

The year 2018 started off on an exceptional high and we couldn’t be more grateful, proud and thrilled with Wine Enthusiast’s most recent reviews of our De Toren wine range. To top this, two of our most prestigious wines were included in the highly respected Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selections, and the other two wines were included in the acclaimed Editor’s Choice List by Wine Enthusiast. What a way to start the year! We are thrilled to share our wines’ spectacular reviews and ratings, as published by this esteemed USA publisher.

De Toren Z 2015

The renowned De Toren Z 2015, our prised Merlot dominated Bordeaux-style blend, was included in Editor’s Choice List, honouring this wine for its unique qualities, which makes it a wine of superior quality. Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded the highly regarded 2015 vintage of the Right-Bank Bordeaux blend, De Toren Z, an outstanding 93 Points.

The Editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s thoughts on De Toren Z 2015…

“Charred hickory and cured bacon waft from the glass, overriding but not completely overpowering the lush, fruity center. Waves of velvety tannins brush across the palate, lending structure to the ripe black cherry, blackberry and mashed plum-flesh flavors. Final hints of tree bark, licorice root and black tea unfold on the medium-length finish. It’s delicious now, but should evolve well from 2021–2028.”

De Toren Fusion V 2015

Our prestigious De Toren Fusion V 2015, a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated Bordeaux-style blend, was awarded a magnificent 94 Points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It has also been included in the well-regarded Editor’s Choice List – a list or compilation of wines from around the world that offer excellent quality and has unique characteristics that merit special attention.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Editor, Lauren Buzzeo had the following to say about this wine…

“Deep, brooding scents of black plum, cherry and cassis form the soul of this beautiful, richly concentrated wine. Plenty of licorice, cigar-box spice and bittersweet cocoa ride atop the fruit core, while notes of green peppercorn, leather and tobacco flesh out the midpalate and flourish on the finish. The crushed-velvet texture offers ample tannic grip and balancing acidity to keep everything in harmony. While it’s hard to resist now, this should shine from 2023–2028.”

The Black Lion 2015

The powerful The Black Lion Shiraz was granted an exceptional 95 Points, securing it the honorary title as South Africa’s Top Shiraz in the recent Wine Enthusiast reviews. This extraordinary wine has been included in the Top 100 Cellar Selections, a list that embodies prestige, exceptional age-ability and immense quality. This respected list also serves as a recap of all Wine Enthusiast’s annual tastings and reviews, of wines from around the globe, to help identify the top ones that have incredible cellaring and investment potential.

Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast Editor, on SA’s Top Shiraz…

“This wine is currently a big, bold beast, with serious concentration and tremendous depth that suggests this wine’s considerable future. Deep aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, plum and raspberry all abound on the nose and mouth, with an equally intense overlay of whole baking spice, campfire, black tea and pepper. The mouthfeel is bold yet balanced, with a texture like crushed velvet and a long, evolving finish that transitions masterfully from dark fruit flesh to charred cherry and baked plum, and then final notes of espresso bean, black forest cake and tilled earth. Expect even more complexity & layers of flavor to develop with age. Built for long-term cellaring, drink 2023–2033.”

 

Book XVII 2015

The phenomenal Book XVII, a Bordeaux-style blend, was recognised by as South Africa’s Top Wine, with a glorious rating of 96 Points, during recent Wine Enthusiast reviews. This is officially the highest rating ever awarded to a SA wine by the USA publisher. From a total of 23 000 wines tasted, including 17 countries and the greatest variety of cultivars, the 2015 vintage of this wine has again been included in the Top 100 Cellar Selections, marking this as the second consecutive year. The Book XVII 2014 vintage claimed a magnificent 95 Points in the Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selections last year, again the highest rating ever given to a SA wine at that time.

SA’s Top rated wine, in Wine Enthusiast Editor, Lauren’s own words…

“This huge, dense and firmly structured bottling absolutely begs for time in the cellar to allow the primary characteristics to mellow and greater elegance and nuance to unfold. Currently, it’s an absolute bruiser, with boatloads of plush, ripe black berry and plum characteristics that are coupled with seductive notes of campfire, vanilla bean, Thin Mint, woodspice and licorice root. The assertive tannins produce a bold, extremely firm texture that is in equal measure to the superbly rich and concentrated fruit. Secondary notes of pencil shavings, violets, pipe tobacco and char unfold beneath the fruit, and suggest even further evolution and grace to come with time. Drink 2026–2038.”

We, at De Toren, are honoured and humbled by these extraordinary reviews & couldn’t have asked for a more magnificent way to kick off 2018!