A statement Bordeaux-style blend.
“It’s like a cashmere glove,” says Mulderbosch’s winemaker, Henry Kotzé, describing what cabernet franc adds to a blend. “It’s also aromatic and hard to miss in its uniqueness. That’s why we try to hero it in all our red blends, as well as showcase it with the Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc.”
Red vine assets
The Stellenbosch farm has long been known for its outstanding whites; critically acclaimed for their sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and chenin. Slowly though they’re gaining recognition for their premium reds too. “The perception of Mulderbosch of only being a white wine estate has been a real struggle for us,” agrees Kotzé. “We have invested hugely in our reds over the past 10 years. We’re happy that our work is starting to show some fruit,” he says laughing, “and good fruit at that!”
The case in-point? The newly released statement red blend, the maiden 2021 Mulderbosch Estate Red. “It’s the first wine in our 35-year history to be estate-certified and it calls attention to the excellence of our very own farm-grown red grapes.”
Cabernet franc-led blend
Larry Jacobs and Mike Dobrovic started Mulderbosch in 1989. Then, it was an old run-down fruit farm in a corner of the Stellenbosch Kloof ward. The two founders saw the potential for viticulture when they observed the rolling valley of varying aspects and altitudes, the breezes flowing in from the Atlantic. The maiden vintage in 1992, was a sauvignon blanc, and quickly shot to fame, becoming one of, if not the top, example of the grape in the Cape winelands. A wine people still talk about to this day.
And tongues are already wagging about the debut estate Bordeaux-style blend.
“Polkadraai Hills with its granitic koffieklip soils and deep clay substructure is rightly renowned for cabernet franc. It’s why it takes the lead at 44 per cent,” explains Kotzé. “Cab franc brings structure, power, but also purity of fruit and perfume, and is complemented by the lively black and red fruit and herbal characters of petit verdot and the surprising heft but also soft texture from the merlot.”
Mulderbosch Estate Blend 2021
Beautifully styled with red and black cherry fruit, seamlessly integrated into perfumed, fragrant wood. The body is lithe and energetic, with a core of dark cherry fruit. Kotzé’s cashmere tannins are there, melting to the finish. Yes this is a statement wine all right, as they have intended, but one delivered in the most persuasive, silky manner.
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