2012 Mr De Compostella
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Tasting notes
(14.5% alcohol; a blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot and 10% Merlot): Healthy red-ruby. Pungent red berries and licorice pastille on the nose, along with hints of herbs and spices. Intense, juicy and penetrating, with bright acidity and a brisk mineral underpinning keeping the dark fruit and licorice flavors under wraps today. Finishes with good medicinal reserve. This very young blend needs time in bottle to expand. This wine is a joint venture between Bruwer Raats of Raas Family Wines and Mzokhona Mvemve.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The latest release is the 2012 MR de Compostella, which this year is a blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot and 10% Merlot, each grape variety assessed blind after one year in barrel before the final blend was made. In total it spent 22 months in barrel of which one-third is new French oak, the remainder second and third-fill. It has an exquisite bouquet with mineral-laden dark berries and cassis fruit that come across so natural and refined. Who said South Africa cannot do elegance? The palate is very well defined, supple and cohesive with just a touch of white pepper that lend tension and verve on the finish. This is one of the best vintages I have tasted...so far. Exceptional.
NHB. Mzokhona Mvemve and Bruwer Raats joint venture that is currently the most consistently highly rated red blend in South Africa. 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot. Complex nose with good freshness and lots of ambitious tannin though too young at the moment. May get there. But it’s not there yet! Sinewy. (JR)
About the producer
Product details
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec/ Auxerrois / Cot
Red
Dry