Rietvallei Wine Estate’s JMB Cabernet Franc 2015 has again been selected as the top Cabernet Franc in South Africa by the 2018 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards. This is the second time the JMB Cabernet Franc has been awarded top honours by this prestigious wine award.  At the 2015 awards, the 2013 vintage also came out tops.

‘Terroir’ is a French term, describing the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as climate, topography and soil. Marius Labuschagne, renowned wine writer, created the prestigious Novare Teroir Wine Awards to specifically define the various terroir types of the Cape and to honour wines which truly portray South Africa’s different wine growing areas. 

The JMB Cabernet Franc is a full-bodied wine with a lot of complexity. The selection process for this Special Cuvée began with the identification of the specific single vineyard, then with special care from pruning through to harvesting. Hard work in the vineyard and minimal interference in the cellar allows this wine to express its terroir to the fullest. It has a beautiful deep ruby red, almost black colour, and has an expressive aroma of black current, plum, pencil shavings and spicy toasted oak on the nose. On the palate the black current and plum flavours persist, well complimented by the toasty oak flavours from 24-month barrel maturation. The tannins are firm but sumptuous, making this is a well-rounded wine, which is showing beautifully in its youth. It also has the structure and fruit to mature for a good 10+ years.