Provenance

Producer

Critics Ratings

2015
'The Le Riches make some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in Stellenbosch, and this stellar 2015 is no exception. Still closed right now, as you'd expect from such a vintage, this has layers of mocha oak, some green herbs, bright acidity and a vigorous core of dark fruit. One for the cellar. 2020- 30' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 94/100

'Very focused nose with sufficient but not excessive fruit on the palate. Blend of dry cassis and stones. Clean and fresh with impressive length.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Feb 2020)

'Luscious and plush, with cedar, tobacco and leather aromas ceding to a fleshy, layered palate with notes of graphite, gravel and blackberry spice. A serious effort.' - Tim Atkin, Decanter.com, 93/100 (Aug 2018)

'Bold and structured, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has black and red fruits with oak spice and pleasing dusty florals. The palate is structured and broad with elegant brown baking spices. It is full-bodied with classic beauty and mineral grip, ending with an elegant and textured expression. This wine is delivering nicely for its youth but will deliver even better with age. 9,500 bottles were made.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 93+/100 (May 2019)

The generosity of the epic 2015 vintage has without question of doubt produced a really beautiful expression of pure Cabernet Sauvignon… as well as possibly one of the greatest red wine vintages ever in South Africa. What is most striking about this wine is its incredible purity and perfume that rises out of the glass imperiously in multiple waves of fragrant cherry blossom, violets, potpourri and crushed rose petals. It possesses copious amounts of mocha, sweet tobacco leaf, dried herbs, cedar spice, black currant coulis and a delicious earthy, brambly, wild forest berry complexity. The palate continues to show such sophistication and textural seduction with classical Cabernet flavours filling every corner of the mouth. Still beautifully charming, but a little less open-knit and expressive than it was even last year as it starts to perhaps enter its slumber and shut down a little. Undoubtedly, this wine reveals the class of a truly great vintage with a full bodied fleshy weight, a finely delineated purity and the most charming harmonious balance and intensity. Start drinking this wine in 3-5 years time and over the next 25+ years. It's a true thing of beauty.' - Greg Sherwood MW, The Fine Wine Safari, 96/100 (June 2020)

'From Raithby & Firgrove sites, with longer oak ageing (2 years, 67% new) than standard version. Classic cab in fine 2015 vintage shows pure elegance, more refinement than 2014 (4.5 stars, 93 pts). Fine-grained tannins, cool core of cassis fruit. Inherent balance, poise, to evolve well.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2010, 5* (95 pts) Cabernet Sauvignon Wine of the Year

2017
'Right up there with the very top Stellenbosch Cabernets of the vintage, this is the best wine yet from Christo Le Riche, who has now filled his father's sizeable shoes. Youthful, vigorous and focused, it has capsicum and pencil shaving top notes, layered damson and blackcurrant fruit, racy acidity and structured, dense, ageworthy tannins. Very classy indeed.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 96/100

'A consistent, ageworthy top performer. Premium fruit from Firgrove, Raithby, Simonsberg & Jonkershoek for 2017, a notch above 2016 (4.5 stars, 93 pts). Complex & harmonious, 73% new barriques add a dark chocolate nuance on fruit-packed finish.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2021, 5* (96/100

'Tasted alongside the 2015 and 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for added perspective reveals a wine that is quite simply drop dead gorgeous. While 2017 is of course another excellent vintage for reds in the Cape and the quality of this icon was always expected to be high, I was not anticipating it being this good! The aromatics are super fragrant and exuberant, showing intricate perfumed notes of violets and lilacs, cinnamon stick, cedar and sandalwood, cigar box and wonderfully complex herbal hints of thyme, dried fennel seeds and Chinese five spice. There is an impressive elegance and gravitas to the silky, finely textured palate which boasts all the classical Cabernet notes of black currants and black plum, crème de cassis, graphite and savoury, earthy nuances of freshly tilled earth. A beautifully proportioned, multi-dimensional wine that shows such a harmonious balance and sophisticated composure reserved for only the finest red wines around the world. Medium bodied, super elegant and weightlessly intense, the fruit flavours are perfectly ripe and precise, growing in the mouth and energised by an exhilarating freshness that holds everything in place so effortlessly. Certainly one of the most 'complete' wines I have tasted from the 2017 vintage so far. Drink this beauty on release but be sure to hold back a couple of cases for long term cellaring of 10, 15 or 20+ years.' - Wine Safari Score: Greg Sherwood (97/100)

2019
'Featuring the lowest alcohol level since 2004 - the 2019 vintage was late and wet in Stellenbosch - this superb, layered Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is based on Firgrove fruit, with support from Jonkershoek, Raithby and Simonsberg components. Aged in 92% new oak, it's a structured, dense, finely judged red with graphite and pastille flavours and lots of drive and energy.'- Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2022, 95/100

'Reserve status only given if quality is there, & 2019 is a knockout. Parcels from Firgrove, Raithby, Simonsberg & Helderberg vinified separately, blended after a year. Thrilling density of cassis fruit, ensconced in powdery tannins, that cassis line driven right to the finish. Opulent & generous, power & great freshness too.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2023, 5* (96/100)