Strydom Rex Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Rex: Latin for ‘The King’

Kleur: diep donkerrood, bijna zwart
Geur: kersen, rijpe bramen, zwarte bessen, anijs, vanille, tabak
Smaak: vol en krachtig, heel sappig, rijpe tannines, cederhout, cassis
Houdbaar: iets koel drinken, houdbaar tot eind 2030
Lekker bij: steaks, entrecote, gebraden rosbief, lamsvlees, oude Hollandse kazen

Platter’s ****(*) 94/100
Majestic 2018 from Helderberg vines, intense blackcurrant with lead pencil & cigarbox notes from 30% new French oak, 18 months. Velvet tannin & restrained earthiness like previous. Firm structure augurs well for a decade’s development. Just 335 cases.

Vinification
The grapes were hand-picked during the morning. In the cellar, after sorting, and no crushing the whole berries were conveyed into the open fermentation tank. Laffort FX15 yeast was used for innoculation. Pump-overs started once the cap lifted every 4 hours five times a day with a gentle punch down thereafter. Total maceration was for 16 days. Only 650L/Ton were pressed out after which the wines did the malo-lactic fermentation in French oak barrels – 30% new. This wine spent 18 months in barrel and was bottled in November 2019.