93 Points – rated 68th out of the Top 100 Wines of the World.  A stunning wine loaded with nuance and complexity, Fusion V is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec, 7% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Spicy accents of leather, tobacco and cured meat add intrigue to the dark fruit core, while pepper and sweet licorice spice infuse the long finish. It’s textured like crushed velvet with a firm structure of dusty tannins that linger. Drink now-2014. Imported by Cape Classics – L.B.

93 Points – rated 74th out of the Top 100 Wines of the World. Cedar, blackberry, plum and dark chocolate aromas and flavors give this poised red blend a mysterious edge. Anise and pepper add a spicy kick, the whole package rolls out in oune impressive, rich wave, ending wiht a spicy finish. an egeable wine with great character and poise. One of South AFrica’s best. Imported by Cape Classic.

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.

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.

88 Points – Complex, rich and full of smoky clove and dark fruit, this impressive blend is food friendly and will age beautifully. Warming spices like cinnamon on the nose and palate mingle with toasted oak and anise, and the overall mouthfeel is supple and smooth. Attractive to varied palates but also has a South African character that sets it apart.  — S.K.

92 Points – Rich and polished, with nicely layered dark currant, fig and coffee notes wrapped with ample but integrated toast. The long, cocoa powder-filled finish hangs on nicely – J.M.

90 Points – A sleek, solid and focused red, with hints of grilled herb and toast well-integrated into the core of red currant and damson plum fruit. A touch of red licorice adds length to the finish. A remark¬ably consistent wine from year to year. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab¬ernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2013 —J.M.

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.

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.

91 Points – James Molesworth presented it as the Wine of the Week.

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.

90 Points - Outstanding – superior character and style.

90 Points – Outstanding – superior character and style.

93 Points – a Bordeaux blend based on 56% cabernet sauvignon): Full medium ruby. Sexy dark fruits, coffee and spices on the nose. Then lush, sweet and seamless, with glossy flavors of red and dark berries, truffle and spices. Wonderfully ripe, velvety wine with sweet tannins, superb balance and impressive length. A very classy, harmonious wine in a rather New World style.

90+ 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)

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)

Not rated.

93-3 Points – This wine is always one of the best red wines coming out of South Africa. The 2007 vintage lives up to that reputation. This very dark purple colored red blend opens with a very pleasant cranberry and boysenberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, very nicely balanced and fruit forward when first opened. As air permeates the wine, its classic South African oak characteristics start to emerge. On the whole, the flavor profile is a very tasty black raspberry with notes of integrated smoky old oak and a hint of blueberry. The finish is dry and it displays moderate tannins and some blackberry notes as well. This wine will pair well with a NY strip steak from Grill 23. Enjoy – Ken

93-4 Points – Average Rating of KWG Group on 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.

5 Stars – 2010 Wine Awards

Silver Medal – 2009 Wine Awards

Silver Medal – 2008 Wine Awards

Not rated.

Bronze Medal – 2006 Wine Awards

5 Stars – 2005 Wine Awards – (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.

4 ½ Stars – 2003 Wine Awards – Fine, elegant Cabernet bouquet. Elegant style, fine and good depth, (very) good in this range – good touch of terroir: 2-10 years – Stephen Spurrier. ‘Highly Recommended’ in July issue – Although there is no doubt that spectacularly taty Cabernet Sauvignon can be produced in SA, I suspect the future lies in blends, such as among others, the gorgeous DE TOREN FUSION V – Stephen Brook

Silver Medal

Silver Medal

Bronze Medal

Silver Medal – Best wine in the Class in 2005. Deep, dark purple with blue rim. Immediate impressio 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 – IWSC

Not rated.

19/20 - Eye catching dark intense colour with lots of crimson jerks. Intense fruit bouquet with subtle terroir relish, breadcrumbs; noble and multi layered. Indeed nearly royalty in it’s formulation. On the pallet very decent with mild harmonic tannins. Beautifully balanced.

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 dominated bitter tone.

5th Best Cabernet based Wine in the World.

Silver Medal – 2009 Competition

Silver Medal – 2008 Competition

5 Stars – Rated best red wine in the world in it’s category in the Netherlands out of 160 international wines as it’s wine of the year.

Not rated.

5 stars Customer Ratings.

The Magazine of Western New York

Finally, the wine of the night was the 2005 De Toren Fusion V ($45), a stunning, world-class Bordeaux blend, complex, well-balanced, and silky, with a long, lingering finish. It’s easy to see why this bottling has become legendary with Cape aficionados. Although not cheap, this is an astonishing bargain for what’s in the bottle. -
M.C. Marc Criden October 2008

Bronze Medal

5 stars - 2012 Guide

4 ½ stars
– Nominated for 5 Stars – 2011 Guide

4 ½ stars
- Nominated for 5 Stars – 2010 Guide

5 stars – 2009 Guide

4 ½ stars – 2008 Guide

4 ½ stars – 2007 Guide

4 ½ stars – 2006 Guide

4 ½ stars – Nominated for 5 Stars – 2005 Guide

4 ½ stars – 2004 Guide

4 ½ stars – 2003 Guide

4 stars – 2002 Guide

5 stars

4 stars

4 stars

Best Red Wine at the 2011 Show

Rated Top Five Best Red Wine on Show at Winex Johannesburg 2010

Rated 2nd Best Red Wine at “Winex Johannesburg and Talk Radio 702 Best Wine on Show Awards 2009

Top Ten of Best Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and Johannesburg

Rated Best Red Wine on Show at WineX Cape Town and Johannesburg

Rated Best Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and Johannesburg

Rated Best Red Wine at Winex Cape Town and Johannesburg 2005

Rated Best Red Wine at Winex Johannesburg

Rated Best Red Wine at Winex Johannesburg

Malbec constituent rated best Malbec in the country.

Collection of 6 x 750ml of the first 6 vintages – 1999 to 2004 – bidding was very brisk and the hammer was finally struck for the first lot at R9 200 for a case. The average price achieved for the 6 cases was R8 300 per case and R1 417 per bottle

T2000 Director’s Reserve – 20 cases of 6 x 750ml – average price achieved was R693.50 per bottle