2018 Taaibosch Crescendo Red Blend, Stellenbosch

This is of course the first release of the rejuvenated and replanted Cordoba estate under the watchful eye of Schalk Willem Joubert. Shows a dark dense nose of brûléed black berry fruits, coffee bean, espresso and sweet cedar spice. The palate is elegant but robust and powerful with grippy tannins, graphite spice, concentrated black currant fruit and an impressive stony mineral length. Bury this in your cellar for 10 years minimum. It will reward patience! Review Date: October 2022

"This is the maiden release from a new project, a resurrection of sorts of the famed Cordoba Crescendo wines of the late 1990s. A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is dense and concentrated yet balanced and pure. It takes time to fully express in the glass now, but with patience it reveals enticing aromas of brambly berry, black currant, blackberry leaf, crushed violet, graphite and pencil shavings. The medium-weight palate shows a seam of purity, with a granitic minerality that weaves throughout the ripe berry fruits and lands with a saline kiss on the long close. Built for aging; enjoy 2027-2041." - Lauren Buzzeo Review Date: June 2022