Situated on the south west facing slopes of the iconic Paarl Mountain, thus named as the large granite rocks shine like pearls after rain. The view looks south to Table Mountain on the horizon and west to the Simonsberg. In all the time, the Cellarmaster has been named Paul. The current Paul is the holder of the Diners Club Wine Maker of the Year for his Port Style wines. The Landskroon Paul de Villiers Reserve 2017 pays homage to the Pauls.
The blend, classic Bordeaux in style, is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot. The grapes, once hand harvested, were brought to the cellar where they were separately vinified for later blending. Fermentation took place in open top fermenters with regular punch downs for maximum extraction of colour and flavour and soft tannins. Once fermented and pressed, the three varieties are matured in French oak barrels, some new, some second fill for 18 months. The wines are then blended and prepared for bottling.
Pour
From a Bordeaux shaped bottle, closed with natural cork. The label is a classical and elegant black. In the glass, the wine is a deep opaque bloodplum at the heart which pales out to ruby at the edges. The aromas and flavours are what one expects from a fine wine like this. Dark berry fruits, blackberries, roadside brambles, Crème de Cassis, an undertow of fynbos herbaceousness and well applied oak with its concomitant spice and vanilla. A sublime glass. The wine also has all the components to allow it to age gracefully for a couple of years of cool cellaring.
Pair
The Landskroon Paul de Villiers Reserve 2017 is a food wine without any doubt. Do chill it for about 30 minutes before serving, it will reward you well. Meat obviously comes to mind, as do some of the full flavoured vegetarian dishes like Melanzane Parmiggiana. However, while it is the perfect wine for the Sunday Lunch Roast, it does as well as a week night supper wine. And I am going to recommend Christine Capendale’s Chicken Nachos – yes chicken. A really full flavoured dish which comes up trumps to match this wine.
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