Ever since the esteemed maiden 1997 vintage, the Le Riche family has been inextricably associated with Cabernet excellence. Internationally acclaimed as a leading ultra-premium producer of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, they have made it their business to craft the ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stellenbosch Winelands of South Africa.
The coveted Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship of the range, is a statuesque expression of the very best Le Riche Wines can produce. The soon-to-be released Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from the celebrated 2021 vintage is proving to be another benchmark of excellence.
"This highly anticipated 2021 release, 'a sensational benchmark', comes hard on the heels of the highly rated 2020 and 2019 from Christo le Riche, and the impressive 2021 completes the trilogy of block buster vintages from this Cabernet specialist… Simply sublime, awesome even, and most definitely a vintage that will come to define premium quality Cabernet for years to come. A true classic that will richly reward bottle ageing," says Greg Sherwood MW on his blog Wine Safari, who scored the 2021 Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon a mighty 98/100 at a pre-release tasting.
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – a stellar wine with an enviable pedigree
Over 25 vintages the lauded Le Riche Reserve Cabernet has garnered widespread acclaim, including ten Platter’s pinnacle five-star ratings, Platter’s Red Wine of the Year award for the 2005 vintage, and Platter’s Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year awards for the 2015 and 2019 vintages.
Le Riche’s Cabernet Sauvignon stardom was also manifest when the Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 was awarded the Trophy for Cabernet Sauvignon in 2021’s Global Fine Wine Challenge for New World Wine Countries hosted in Australia. In addition, the runner-up prize also went to Le Riche for the Reserve 2017, breaking a record as the first producer to be awarded both accolades in the same year.
The 2020 Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon proudly continued this legacy of excellence, winning a splendid Best in Class accolade at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in 2023, cementing its status as a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the 50 best wines in the world.
Le Riche’s distinguished stature was further endorsed by renowned UK wine critic Tim Atkin in his 2023 South Africa Special Report, where he awarded the 2020 Reserve a whopping 99 points, describing it as "the Latour of South Africa"; honoured Le Riche as one of the 25 First Growths in his Cape Classification for the first time; and named founder Etienne le Riche his "Winemaking Legend" of the year.
Further affirmation for the 2020 Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon unfolded across the Atlantic with an exceptional 98-point rating in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Enter the 2021 vintage of the Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon.
Christo le Riche, who has successfully taken over the reins of the multi-generational Le Riche winery from his legendary father Etienne, is all praise for the soon-to-be released 2021 vintage: "In his acclaimed South Africa 2023 Special Report, Tim Atkin contended the 2021 vintage could rank as one of the Cape’s best-ever vintages to date. I believe our 2021 Reserve will compete as one of the greatest. It is a tannic vintage with elegant fruit and great aging potential and will be a stellar investment in satisfaction for any Cabernet enthusiast. I like to describe it as 'an iron fist in a velvet glove', a delicate tight-rope of muscle and power, precision, balance and seductive elegance."
Christo continues, "For 28 years we have made it our business to produce the definitive expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, pursuing a steadfast dedication to the veritable 'King of Grapes' and the 'Crown Jewell' of the Stellenbosch wine region.
"Combining decades of experience and knowledge, we meticulously select and source only the highest-quality fruit from the best possible terroirs Stellenbosch has to offer. We work with a close network of trusted, long-term, established wine farmers with unique vineyards based in the Stellenbosch wards of Jonkershoek and Simonsberg, along with the upper and lower foothills of the Helderberg Mountain. Every ward or region showcases vastly different terroir characteristics, adding compelling complexity to our wines.
"Following our ethos of quality, elegance and consistency, our winemaking style is orientated around crafting the best Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignons, with minimal interference, letting the exceptional terroir speak for itself. The resulting wines show great elegance and class, and consistently superb quality and maturation potential.
"For our Reserve, final blending by our team forms the key step in determining the style and character of our flagship wine. Reserve status is only endowed if the grapes and resulting wine measure up to our exceptional standard.
"This year we are also releasing three single vineyard Cabernets (only 300 bottles of each) to help tell the story of Stellenbosch and the amazing diversity this region offers."
Le Riche's new Cabernet Sauvignon releases
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
The new vintage Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, to be released on 3 June, is another outstanding flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, a masterclass in the art of blending special Stellenbosch terroirs.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were scrupulously selected from best performing vineyard parcels sourced from the Stellenbosch wards of Helderberg (67%), Simonsberg (22%), and Jonkershoek Valley (11%).
The vineyard blocks were micro-vinified separately until final blending. Fermentation in open-top concrete fermenters, manual plunging to ensure optimal colour extraction, extended maceration to increase ageability. and the use of high-quality French oak barrels (70% new) ensure the pedigree of this distinguished wine.
After a year in barrel, the individual batches were blended to form the final wine and returned to barrel for another year before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wine matured in bottle for another year before release.
A wine in true Cabernet Sauvignon style, it is massively expressive with fresh plums and blackberries, cherry, violet and cassis grounded in classic cedar and graphite notes, which are mirrored on the palate. The wine is brooding and dense yet sophisticated and elegant. The structure is powerfully firm with polished, fine-grained tannins and a remarkable acid/fruit balance. The palate is rich, velvety and opulent yet remarkably fresh with a lively purity and a creamy mouthfeel. The wonderfully long, complex finish showcases the great potential for maturation.
The Le Riche family best enjoys their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon with a great steak, especially fillet or rump, on the coals or grilled.
Le Riche Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
This trellised single Simonsberg vineyard was planted in 2004 in deep red decomposed granite soils. After fermentation for 21 days in concrete open-top fermenters, spontaneous malolactic followed in 225L French oak barrels, after which the wine was transferred to 50% new French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by another 12 months in a single new barrel. The wine was then racked and bottled.
Inviting aromas of blackberry, cassis and brambles jump out of the glass followed by hints of spice and black pepper. The palate showcases red and black pastilles coupled with fresh black fruits, a vibrant acidity, a fine yet gripping tannin structure, a creamy mouthfeel, and a long and rich finish.
Le Riche Steynsrust Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
This trellised Firgrove single vineyard was planted in 1997 in deep red decomposed granite soils. After fermentation for 17 days in an unlined concrete tank, spontaneous malolactic followed in 225L French oak barrels, after which the wine was transferred to 50% new French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by another 12 months in a second-fill barrel, after which the wine was bottled unfiltered.
Fresh cherry aromas and spearmint play alongside a mint chocolate complexity on the nose. The aromas are mirrored on the palate with overall elegance exuded throughout. A chalky tannin coupled with balanced acidity ensure an appetising, juicy edge. A Cabernet Sauvignon brimming with flavour yet with a delicate underlying elegance and a refined, long finish.
Le Riche Bosstok Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
This Helderberg coastal single bush vine vineyard was planted in 2008 in duplex sandy gravel soils with a deep clay layer. After fermentation for 10 days in a concrete open-top fermenter, spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in barrel, followed by ageing in 225L French oak barrels (75% new) for 24 months. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Densely dark purple in the glass, this brooding wine displays intense black fruit aromas and savoury spice notes. A full flavoured black fruit palate showcases blackberries, cassis, spice, and some liquorice. Big and bold on the palate yet with a striking overall lightness. Gripping tannins are softened by a creamy mouthfeel promising maturation potential. A showcase Cabernet Sauvignon!
More about Le Riche Wines
Etienne le Riche, often referred to as the "King of South African Cabernet Sauvignon", has been pivotal in the story of Cape Cabernet Sauvignon, consistently making some of South Africa’s best Cabernet Sauvignon for over 35 years. "From the very beginning we have pursued a steadfast dedication to Cabernet Sauvignon. Focus on one thing and do it to the best of your ability is our winemaking philosophy," says Etienne.
During a glorious 20-vintage winemaking era at Rustenberg Wines, Etienne made the first certified Cabernet in South Africa, a 1971 Rustenberg Cabernet. He was also a founder member of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) and, among many prestigious accolades at the time, was heralded as Platter's SA Wine Guide 1990 Wine Man of the Year.
His dream to own his own winery led him to establish Le Riche in 1996, initially operating from Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch with a business model of sourcing the highest quality fruit from a select group of trusted Stellenbosch grape growers with exceptional vineyards. By 2010, Etienne had been joined by his children, Yvonne and Christo, to assist in the growing business. One of their first tasks was identifying a new home for Le Riche Wines.
In 2013, the Le Riche family built a new winery in Raithby on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. With traditional open-top concrete fermentation tanks and a minimal intervention winemaking approach, the winery provides a platform to create ultra-premium wines with Le Riche’s trademark elegance and finesse. The first vintage in the new cellar was released in 2014.
Le Riche Wines has journeyed from a solo venture by Etienne to a highly-reputed family business. Now a multi-generational venture, including Etienne’s children and extended family, the winery is looking to the future with creativity and vision to continue the legacy.
