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De Toren Private Cellar - rated
one of the 20 best new wineries in the world
Food and wine magazine USA , November 2004
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Perched in South Africa 's Polkadraai Hills,
De Toren has achieved international cult
status since Emil and Sonette den Dulk produced
their first vintage in 1999. This Bordeaux
style blend, with it's classic flavours
of plum, currant and cedar and it's refined
richness, is a quality wine at a price that
has not been seen in Bordeaux since at least
the 1988 vintage.
 De
Toren Private Cellar on the Global "A" List
FOOD & WINE the American food and wine magazine,
with a distribution of over 6 million copies
produced their global "A" list of Richard
Nalley wrote: "Hundreds of exciting wineries
have opened up around the globe in recent
years defying the worldwide economic slump.
Italy, Spain, the United States and probably
South Africa and Australia have each launched
a long roster of impressive newcomers. And
countries in both the Old and the New World,
ranging from Germany to Argentina to New
Zeeland, have debuted innovative new wineries
that would be impossible for any oenophile
to ignore. The terrific bottles highlighted
here come from a selection of the planet's
20 most notable producers, all of which
introduced their labels in 1999 or later". |
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ACCOLADES
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1999
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Fusion
V 1999
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Virgin
Wines Customer Ratings
5 stars *****
John Platter
Wine Guide
4 stars ****
Wine Magazine
SA
4 stars ****
Robert J Parker Jr's Wine Advocate
90 Points
Wine Spectator - USA
90 Points
"Outstanding - superior character
and style"
2001 London International Wine &
Spirits Challenge Gold
Medal
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2000
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Fusion
V 2000
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Decanter Magazine
4 ½
stars *****
John Platter Wine Guide
4 ½ stars
*****
Wine Magazine SA
4 stars ****
Wine Spectator - USA
91 Points
"Outstanding - superior character
and style"
International Wine and Spirit Competition
Silver Medal
5th Best Cabernet based Wine in
the World
Weinwisser Switzerland
2000 National
Young Wine Show Champion
(Malbec constituent rated best Malbec
in the country)
Participated
in the Nederburg Auction
Twenty wooden cases of 6 De Toren Fusion
V 2000 Directors Reserve auctioned off at
R 693.50 per bottle incl VAT.
Comment:
Hi Emil,
I trust you are keeping well and the 2007
Vintage has treated you well too!
Just a short note to let you know that my
wife and I took a bottle of 2000 Fusion
V to dinner at a local restaurant here in
Ballito where we are
currently holidaying. I am happy to report
that it is drinking superbly well. Very
smooth and well balanced, still ample fruit
and really soft tannins. Complex secondary
flavours too - in my view. It has genuinely
matured into a world class Bdx blend. Happily
I still have another 6 bottles left. It's
been a great investment. Here's hoping my
recently acquired case of your Director's
Reserve will do as well!
With best regards recently acquired case
of your Director's Reserve will do as well!
With best regards
DPJ
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2001
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Fusion V 2001
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Decanter
Magazine
4 ½ stars
*****
John
Platter Wine Guide
4 ½ stars *****
Wine
Magazine SA
4 stars ****
Expovina - Switzerland
92 Points
Wine Spectator - USA
91 Points
Very sleek, polished, modern
style, with loads of ripe, dark blackberry
and black currant fruit, and a healthy dose
of sweet smoke as well. Deceptively
concentrated, this glides really easily
across the palate to a lengthy finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Malbec and Petit Verdot.
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2005
Gold Medal
Fairburn Capital Trophy Wine Show
Bronze Medal
2001 National Young Wine Show Champion
(Malbec constituent rated best
Malbec in the country)
Rated Best
Red Wine at Winex Johannesburg
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2002
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Fusion V 2002
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Decanter Magazine
5 stars *****
(South Africa) This is
a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot,
14% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit
Verdot. The first vintage of this flagship
wine was 1999, and the blend remains very
similar from year to year. Less bold in
style than earlier vintages, this is firm
with delicate raspberry and blackcurrant
fruit, and still tight. Drink 2007-19.
Proefschrift
magazine - Holland
5 stars*****
Rated best red
wine in the world in it's category
in the Netherlands Selected the De Toren
Fusion V
2002 out of 160 international wines as it's
wine of
the year.
John Platter
Wine Guide
4 ½ stars
*****
Wine Spectator - USA
89 Points
Wine
of the Month Club 2005
Platinum Award
2002 National Young Wine Show Champion
Gold Medal and Bakke Industry Trophy
Rated Best Red Wine at Winex Johannesburg
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2003
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Fusion V 2003 |
John Platter
Wine Guide
4 1/2 stars*****
Wine Spectator - USA
91 Points
Wine of the Week
International Wine & Spirits Competition
2005
Silver Medal
Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze Medal
London International Wine and Spirits Challenge
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Best Wine in its Class IWSC 2005
Deep, dark purple with blue rim. Immediate
impression of fine style and harmony. Full
range of aromas from floral, red berry and
oak to fresh earth, dry herb and sweet spice.
Well-rounded mouth with full body and massive
impact of fruit and spice. Great balance
with fine elegance. Chewy but ripe tannins
and massive, long finish. Going to reward
long cellaring
Rated Best
Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and Johannesburg
2005
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2004
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Fusion V 2004
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John Platter Wine Guide
4 1/2 stars*****
Wine Spectator - USA
91 Points
This features a good, solid beam of
raspberry and fig fruit, along with fig,
mocha and cocoa notes. Nice length, with
a vibrant minerally spine on the finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through
2009. 300 cases imported. —J.M.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
online edition
91 Points
Full red-ruby. Vibrant
aromas of blackcurrant, minerals, bitter
chocolate and liquorice. Supple, suave and
impressively concentrated, but far more
backward than the Z owing to its higher
percentage of cabernet sauvignon (55%, vs.
34%). Densely packed and minerally, in the
understated style of a traditionally made
Bordeaux. Very long and subtle on the back
end. Needs at least five or six years of
aging. (Cape Classics, New York, NY)
Wine and
Spirits Magazine USA
91 Points
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2007
Bronze Medal
Rated best Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and
Johannesburg
Visitor index
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De Toren Z 2004 |
John Platter
Guide South Africa
4 Stars ****
Wine
Enthusiast
91 Points
This is the highest accolade for De
Toren Z. Made in a totally different style
to Fusion V, with grapes from the new southern
sloping vineyards comes this "Z" Bordeaux
blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet franc.
This wine really expresses the virtues of
merlot and the cabernet franc is there to
support and bring out the beautiful nose
with hints of violets to tease you.
Stephen Tanzer's
90 Points
Good deep ruby-red. Distinctly
wild aromas of plum, dar berries, leather
spicecake and flowers. Sweet and pliant
but high-toned and sauvage, with a strong
spice character to the dark berry, chocolate
and game flavours. Firm acids and
lush tannins do not get in the way of the
wine's sweetness. I find a lot of
personality here, but this is not for the
faint of heart. This spends one year
in a combination of French and American
oak.
Weinwisser 2009
16/20
Quite intense ruby colour with
auburn touch. Expansive and complex
full flavoured bouquet, black tea and malt
aromas. On the pallet rather light
bodied, but with appealing aromatics, ending
with a slight dominating bitter tone.
International Wine & Spirits Challenge
Silver Medal
Swiss International Airline Awards
Bronze Medal
Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze Medal
Veritas
Bronze Medal
Top Ten of Best
Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and Johannesburg
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2005
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Fusion V 2005
De Toren Z 2005
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John
Platter Wine Guide
4 1/2 Stars*****
Wine Magazine SA
Smart Investors and Editor's Choice
4 Stars****
Ken's Wine Guide USA
94.3 Points
Average Rating of KWG Group 94.3 points
on the
Parker Scale
I have tasted through quite
a few South African Wines over the last
few months and this Bordeaux blend wine
from De Toren is one of the best reds
I have tried. This dark purple wine
opens with a very inviting spicy blueberry
like bouquet with hints of oak. On
the palate, this wine is smooth, soft and
well balanced. It has a very approachable
style to it that
would appeal to both old and new world fans.
The wine displays juicy blackberry and plum
like flavours with some mild oak influence
that is also present. The finish is
nicely dry, has lingering fine tannins and
slowly fades after you swallow it.
It is an absolutely delicious wine that
would pair perfectly with rib eye steak
at your favourite steakhouse. Enjoy
this beauty.
Wine Spectator - USA
92 Points
Sleek, modern style with raspberry
and cassis fruit flavors layered with suave
mocha and tobacco notes. Ample concentration,
with a long, polished finish. Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit
Verdot. The best vintage yet for this very
consistent wine. Drink now through 2010.
560 cases imported. —J.M.
Wine
Enthusiast
91 Points
The assertive elegance of a
French Bordeaux is present here, but the
Fusion also has a South African edge to
it that gives it extra appeal. The nose,
a subtle layering of luscious berry, minerality
and spice, rolls into a clean, taut but
flirty combination of plum and pepper, edged
very quietly by tobacco smoke. Serious but
with a feminine touch, this wine is made
for food pairing. Imported by Cape Classics.
Editors’ Choice. – S.K.
Weinwisser
2009
19/20
Eye catching dark intense colour
with lots of crimson jerks. Intense
fruit bouquet with subtle terroir relish,
breadcrumb; noble and multi layered.
Indeed nearly royalty in it's formulation.
On the pallet very decent with mild harmonic
tannins. Beautifully balanced.
Selections Mondiales
des vins Canada
Silver Medal
Competition 2008
Decanter World Wine Awards 2008
Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2007
Silver Medal
International Wine Challenge
2008
Silver Medal
Rated Best
Red Wine on Show at WineX Cape Town and
Johannesburg
This is a wine show where the
public gets their chance to rate the best
wine they have tasted on the evening. With
approximately 20% of the visitors to the
show completing ballots for the Best-Wine-On-Show
Awards, the voting represents the Countries'
most substantial public opinion poll of
wine preferences. As in previous years,
the public identified some of the country's
best known wines on their voting forms.
John Platter
Wine Guide
4 Stars ****
Wine Spectator - USA
89 Points
Polished with currant and mocha
notes carried by ripe, well rounded tannins.
Flashes of tobacco and spices on the finish.
Nicely done. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec,
Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink
now through 2008. 560 cases imported. J.M.
Wine Enthusiast-
USA
89 Points
$30. The Z has a big nose of red
fruit, spicy wood and pepper, and on the
palate, it’s equally alluring and masculine,
with flavors of smoke, mint and spice. The
wine is elegant but upfront, and could use
some time to age and settle into its full
potential. A collectible, serious wine that
will pair well with beef and equally hearty
dishes. Imported by Cape Classics.– S.K
Weinwisser 2009
17/20
Dark ruby with purple glance.
Intense bouquet of elder which mixes with
black currant. On the pallet black
berries, showing nearly a Pauillac fruit
subtle tannins showing with green pepper
in an aromatic ending, slightly bitter.
International Wine and Spirit Competition
2007
Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2008
Best in Class 2008
Silver Medal
International Wine Challenge 2008
Bronze Medal
In the top ten of Best Red Wine
on Show at WineX Cape Town and Johannesburg
This is a wine show where the
public gets their chance to rate the best
wine they have tasted on the evening. With
approximately 20% of the visitors to the
show completing ballots for the Best-Wine-On-Show
Awards, the voting represents the Countries'
most substantial public opinion poll of
wine preferences. As in previous years,
the public identified some of the country's
best known wines on their voting forms.
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2006
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Fusion V 2006
De Toren Z 2006 |
John Platter 2009
5 Stars *****
Stephen Tanzer
91+ Points
Deep ruby-red. Sexy aromas
of cassis, bitter chocolate, smoky oak and
graphite. Tightly coiled yet sweet,
with the wine's firm spine currently dominating
flavors of dark berries, graphite, fresh
herbs and tobacco leaf. This is broader
but more backward than the Z, showing little
in the way of early sweetness, and yet the
tannins are nobler. Give this one
a lot of air if you plan to open it anytime
soon, or lay it down for four or five years.
(Cape Classics, NY)
Wine Enthusiast
91 Points
The Fusion is a beautiful blend
of black currant, mocha and anise on the
nose and palate, unfolding in rich, ripe
layers. Integrated but still ageable, it’s
an elegant Bordeaux-style blend that marries
the excitement of South African spice with
the sophistication of a French red blend.
Imported by Cape Classics. Editors’ Choice.
—S.K.
Wine Spectator
90 Points
Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
Silver Medal
Mondiales des Vins Canada
Silver Medal
Mundus Vini German 2009
Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2009
Silver Medal
International Wine Challenge Competition
2009 Bronze
Medal
Top Ten of Best Red Wine at Winex
Cape Town and Johannesburg
John Platter Guide 2009
4 Stars ****
Stephen Tanzer
90 Points
Good deep red. Crushed
blackberry, plum and spicecake on the nose.
Rich, dense and chewy, with good cedary
lift to the dark chocolate and graphite
flavours. An accessible merlot-driven
blend in a New Wave style but with solid
structure and a nicely restrained sweetness.
Finishes firm and long. A bit less
wild than the last vintage I tasted.
Wine Enthusiast
91 Points
Deep aromas of plum, anise,
blueberry and black fruit on the nose are
followed by layers of intense cedar, plum
and mocha flavors. A touch of rose and cedar
sweetness adds dimension. Solid structure
and good minerality. An approachable wine
with class. Imported by Cape Classics. Editors’
Choice. —S.K.
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2007
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Fusion V 2007
De Toren Z 2007 |
Rated 2nd Best Red Wine at “Winex Johannesburg
and Talk Radio 702 Best Wine on Show Awards
2009”
Rated Top Ten Best Red Wine on Show at
Winex Cape Town 2009
Decanter Magazine (Jan 2010)
5 Stars *****
John Platter Wine Guide
4 ½ Stars ****
(nominated for 5 stars)
Wine Enthusiast
93 Points
Wine Spectator
91 Points
John Platter Wine Guide
4 Stars ****
Rated Top Ten Best Red Wine at “Winex
Johannesburg and Talk Radio 702 Best Wine
on Show Awards 2009”.
Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirit Competition
2009
Silver Medal
International Wine Challenge Competition
2009
Bronze Medal
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
Wine Spectator 89 Points
Rated Top Ten Best Red Wine on Show at
Winex Cape Town 2009
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