2015 Vintage a Landmark for Warwick’s Three Cape Ladies
· 2 min read
Warwick’s iconic Three Cape Ladies blend celebrates its 21st vintage with a coming-of-age evolution that showcases its subtle sophistication. The 2015 vintage will debut a stylish new bottle design that aligns the wine as a capable, accessible understudy to the flagship Warwick Trilogy.
Originally launched in 1997 by the ever-pioneering Norma Ratcliffe as a Cape Blend, Warwick’s Three Cape Ladies has gone on to achieve exceptional international recognition and become a firm restaurant favourite – even proving worthy of the attentions of 007 in Carte Blanche.
Orchestrated from grapes harvested from four distinct, established vineyards at Warwick since inception, the 2015 vintage of Three Cape Ladies marks a continued evolution towards a Bordeaux-style blend, comprising Cabernet Sauvignon (41%), Cabernet Franc (33%) and Merlot (25%). The wine spends 18 months in French oak and at least 12months in bottle before release. The wine tells the story of Stellenbosch in its characteristics and expresses the structure and power that one expects from the home of Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa. Warwick has secured their vineyards, implemented a focused viticultural program and invested heavily to achieve this goal. The aim is to build a brand to top the best labels of the world.
Voted as one of the Top 100 Wines in the World by the Wine Spectator, Three Cape Ladies consistently receives scores above 90 points from the world’s premiere wine publications.
Cassis and black plum dominate the primary aromas in the 2015 vintage, with complex layers of all spice, mace, cinnamon, cocoa powder and dried lavender. The palate is bursting with dark berry flavour with a spicy top note of cinnamon and fresh fennel. The opulent fruit is balanced out by the well-integrated acidity and chalky tannin. It will benefit from 5-7 years of aging, but is already drinking well as the perfect accompaniment to fillet steak, ostrich or game, in red wine sauce. Its versatility is outlined by the fact that it pairs equally well with open Lasagna with chargrilled giant mushrooms, fennel and green pepper sauce.
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