A place of rich heritage transformed by passion and craftsmanship, Quoin Rock is a premier wine estate located on the slopes of Simonsberg, Stellenbosch. The estate is globally renowned for its exceptional wines and commitment to quality.
Quoin Rock Wine Estate welcomes each visitor to a remarkable experience, whether you are indulging in a glass of wine on the terrace, enjoying a wine tasting in the tasting lounge, embarking on a picnic, or dining at the Gåte restaurant.
At Quoin Rock, the fusion of meticulous craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation is evident in every bottle of wine they produce. By seamlessly blending traditional techniques with modern advances, they remain at the pinnacle of viticultural excellence, ensuring their wines not only honour their rich heritage but also anticipate the future of winemaking.
Quoin Rock’s Black Series is a sophisticated wine range that comprises five wines: Quoin Rock White Blend, Quoin Rock Chardonnay, Quoin Rock Merlot, Quoin Rock Shiraz, and Quoin Rock Red Blend. Each of these wines are meticulously crafted to showcase their exceptional terroir. Rich flavours define the heart of this range. Their bold red wines and elegant whites each possess depth and complexity, each bottle reflecting their commitment to quality.
The Black Series' Red Blend 2017 is a bold, powerful Bordeaux blend. The blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Merlot (5.5%), Malbec (5.5%), and Petit Verdot (4%).
The cultivars used in this red blend grow in the foothills of Simonsberg. Here, the well-drained Hutton and Clovelly soils promote the fruit expression in the berries. Because of the elevation of the vineyards, the southwestern winds have a cooling effect in summer, giving the grapes time to ripen at a slower pace.
How was this wine made? The Quoin Rock winemaking team processed the different cultivars in stainless steel tanks, French oak barrels and concrete open casks until fermentation was finished. For the best extractions, they did between four and five punch downs daily for the first two-thirds of the fermentation period. For the rest of the time, they did some gentle pump-overs. The wine was then left on the skins for 21 days of maceration before pressing took place. Finally, the wine was pumped into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation for optimal oak integration.
After fermentation, the team left the wine to age for nearly 24 months in 55% new French oak 225-litre barrels. This was followed by blending and bottling, whereafter the wine was bottle-aged for four years.
The Quoin Rock Red Blend 2017 is a beautiful example of new-world fruit and old-world elegance. On the nose, this wine has complex layers of dark berries, ripe plums, cranberries, black olives, leather, vanilla oak, and hints of pencil shavings. On the palate, the red blend delivers big, structured layers of fruit, tomato cocktail and wood before it finishes with elegant and lingering velvety tannins.
This red blend is the ultimate match to most red meat dishes and rich cheeses.
In 2023, the Quoin Rock Red Blend 2017 was awarded a Double Gold medal at the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirit Awards – a testament to the wine’s excellence.
Quoin Rock Red Blend 2017 is available for purchase via our online shop, tastewine.co.za.
This article originally appeared on Cape Tourism, as part of a collaboration with wine.co.za.