Provenance

Wine Cellar

Critics Ratings

'Termed classic: it is. 99 follows big shoes of dramatic 98 (5*). More muscular than stablemate Merlot (due to powerful 52% cabernet sauvignon, with 38% merlot, 10% cab franc), demands more patience. Squid-ink black; oak char, perfumed red berries, fresh-ground coffee beans cajoled out of currently closed nose, palate riveting - gently layered cassis fruit, unobtrusive oak, ripe tannins and incisive 14% alc all warming up for the main act - another 4 yrs required for authoritative tannins to release sumptuous underlying fruit, will go 10 with ease. Impressive award haul includes Bordeaux International Challenge du Vin, Air France trophy. 80% new French oak, 20% 2nd fill. 2000 cases.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide (2002)