Anthonij Rupert

Optima

Red Blend from Franschhoek, South Africa

4.5

R270

Bottle size:

750 ml

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Shipping: R99 nationwide

60+ in stock

Fulfilled by

Anthonij Rupert Wyne

Tendrils of spice add nuance and allure to a nose packed with black berries, hedgerow fruit and some mocha notes. The palate is plush, rounded and pillowy but layered with dark fruitcake flavour, black cherry, baking spice and pencil shavings too. The mouthfeel is complemented by its overall stature and regal refinement. Balanced with seamless integration of oak and ripe, rich fruit with lovely succulence and freshness as well. Complex, supple and silky smooth, the wine is ultimately simply delicious with a superbly long tail.

Black Cherry

Baking Spice

Pencil Shavings

Mocha

Grapes are hand-picked from select vineyards specifically earmarked for the Optima and placed in small lug boxes then transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. The whole berries are double-sorted in the cellar using an optical sorting machine to ensure that only the best quality grapes are used. The must was fermented in a combination of large Nico Velo concrete tanks and stainless-steel. Post fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for an extended maceration of up to five days, extracting further depth and complexity. This results in a deep colour and a good tannin structure.

The 2021 harvest in Franschhoek and Darling can best be described as “late, slow, and steady.” A cold, wet winter provided excellent dormancy for the vines and replenished water reserves ahead of the growing season. The cool conditions carried through into spring, leading to a delayed but even bud break, flowering, and fruit set. A moderate summer further extended the ripening period, pushing harvest about two weeks later than usual. February, typically the warmest month, was unexpectedly cool, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually while retaining fresh acidity and vibrant flavours. The result is an exceptional vintage producing outstanding wines that are approachable yet have wonderful ageing potential.

Anthonij Rupert

Anthonij Rupert Wyne was founded on the farm L’Ormarins in Franschhoek. Originally owned by the late Anthonij Rupert who passed away in 2001 the farm was eventually taken over by his brother Johann Rupert in 2003 and the brand named after him. It was Johann Rupert who constructed a state-of-the-art winemaking facility catapulting the farm into a prestigious wine estate and the beginnings of what is now a sprawling enterprise. The focus is on terroir specific wines and therefore the ranges are made from a number of sites. Each site offers optimum varietal specific growing conditions allowing Anthonij Rupert Wyne to adhere to the requirements of their different brands.