“Without aim and direction you are nowhere. Our wine crafting roadmap is clear and precise, our objective is to develop and re-define the Bordeaux concept and adapt it to be uniquely South African... achieving very complex, balanced and expressive wines.”

This is the quoted mission statement of De Toren Wines. Their everyday credo to producing top quality world renowned South African wines. The famous Fusion V being no different. Named after the “fusion” or blending of the five Bordeaux styled varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec.

Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of this world class blend, 44% in this specific vintage. The percentage of Cabernet differs with every vintage but remains the predominant varietal. The rest of the 2013 blend consist of Merlot 26%, Malbec 14%, Cabernet Franc 9% and Petit Verdot 7%.

Twenty five different clones of the five varietals matched to ten different rootstocks. These rootstocks are then matched to specific soil types creating optimal complexity from the vineyard. Vines are watered through controlled drip irrigation and kept in “a state of struggle” ensuring small batches of concentrated, full flavoured grapes.

Grapes are handpicked during the first two hours of daylight and immediately transported to the cool room to ensure optimal preservation. The rest of the day is spent selecting tomorrows batch for picking. Twenty three different check points before the perfect grape reaches the end goal.

The wine is packed with some complex flavours. On the nose creamy black and red berries, dark bitter chocolate, undertones of leather and cedar with a subtle hint of black pepper. On the palate clean, elegant black and red fruits, perfectly balanced acidity, finished off with smooth integrated tannins.

A serious wine like this even though perfectly fine to have on its own deserves to be paired with a dish fit for a king. The blend being predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon calls for a fattier rich meat such as grilled or roast lamb. What better dish than a “classic” roasted rack of lamb, cherry tomatoes, calamata olives and garlic served with oven roasted baby potatoes. To release all the flavours and ensure you enjoy all the wine has to offer, it is suggested to decant the wine at least an hour before serving.

The fattiness of the lamb, sweet acidity from the cherry tomatoes and saltiness from the calamata olives marries beautifully with the fruitiness and balanced acidity of the wine. All these flavours are tied together by smooth tannins leaving a lingering after taste of pure joy on the palate.

So, whether it’s an elegant dinner party you are planning or just a glass of red in front of or around the fire, this is definitely a wine you should have in your cellar or on your wine rack.