Mission Codename Cape Doctor
Ooowee! Do you like your reds rich like Buffet, large like Albert, and round like Violet Beauregard?
What about prices in the mid $30s? With 95, 94, and 93 points from the top critics, maybe?
Well, good! Because we have a treat for YOU today. Per Antonio Galloni’s Vinous, “Warwick is a stalwart of the Stellenbosch scene.” Their history goes back to 1771, they have made wines for almost two hundred years. These are the wines Vinous’ Neal Martin must have had in mind when he wrote “South Africa is frankly unbeatable in terms of quality-to-price ratio.” And if you had their ‘Blue Lady’ Cab, or their ‘Pitch Black’ Cab Blend we sold last year, you already know that’s the truth.
Take it from Jancis Robinson who in a recent Financial Times article titled “Cape Crusaders: South African Wine on a Roll” singled Warwick out, stressing that “the great attraction of South African wine for many consumers is the value it offers.”
This is one of their finest too! Called Trilogy in the UK as that name is already taken in the US, this is the “Reserve” selection of their best fruit that goes into this blend. This vintage we find 48% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot. What a beastly beauty!
Deep dark black fruit and a wide array of herbs on the nose will lure you into the glass. On the tongue, lush and gorgeous tannins that linger for days. Fig and blackberry preserves pay perfectly with dark chocolate, anise, and fresh-cut cedar. Bold and so finessed!
New World in style, and easily mistaken for a California wine. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one that hits this level of quality for the same price. We’re picky about South African wines, but this won our unanimous approval in a big way. You will be smiling after the first sip.
We mean if you put this in Napa or Pauillac, you’d be paying 3-5 times more kinda QPR. Expand your horizons and adopt a few of these.
Where’s the original $80 and where’s $35?! At this price you’ll be happy you did.
95 Points – Tim Atkin MW
“Already impresses in its bouquet with its complexity. A wonderful fruity mélange of plums and blackberries, paired with dark cherries and mulberries, spoils the senses of the connoisseur, while nuances of anise and dried oregano provide a spicy component and give the red wine even more facets. The well-structured tannins culminate in a long-lasting finish, making it an unforgettable taste experience.”
94 Points – John Platter’s Wine Guide
“A barrel-selected Bordeaux blend, a powerful new-world expression of Stellenbosch terroir that sets itself apart from the rest. Blackberries, cassis and sweet spices. Confident, dense core of mulberry, earth and floral notes, vibrant acid and sculpted tannins. Will reward keeping several years.”
93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“A blend of 46% Cabernet Franc, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, the 2019 Warwick Estate Reserve (Trilogy) expresses a lighter style due to the challenging vintage. The wine is more floral and finessed than previous vintages, showcasing a lighter, softer and more gentle expression that didn’t need as much overt oak, as the wine possesses a delicate and compact frame. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is balanced, focused and still tight. I get the sense that it was crafted with a thoughtful approach to keep the sincerity of the wine’s natural expression in harmony. The wine glides to an elegant and precise finish. This may be the lightest expression of this bottling that I’ve seen in years. While it may not be as generous as previous vintages, this vintage does possess all of the elegance and grace to keep me coming back for more. The wine rested in about one-third new French oak for two years before bottling. Drink 2023-2034.”
What the Winery Says
2019 'Reserve' Estate Cabernet Blend
![Warwick Estate](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/photo/3197-c66a02e9bf5ccb70e293ecaaeb876a3989bacd4a/square_photo.jpg)
![Warwick Estate](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/photo/3197-c66a02e9bf5ccb70e293ecaaeb876a3989bacd4a/square_photo.jpg)
- Winemaker
- Johannes Diederick
- Varietals
- 50% Cabernet Franc, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot
- Vintage
- 2019
- Alcohol
- 14.3%
- Appellation
- Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Vineyard
- 100% Warwick Estate
- TA
- 5.8 g/l
- PH
- 3.60
- Aging
- 24 months
- Barrels
- 55% new French oak
About the Winery
Warwick Estate
![Warwick Estate Winemaker Johannes Diederick](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/person_photo/3197-c66a02e9bf5ccb70e293ecaaeb876a3989bacd4a/square_person.jpg)
![Warwick Estate Winemaker Johannes Diederick](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/person_photo/3197-c66a02e9bf5ccb70e293ecaaeb876a3989bacd4a/square_person.jpg)
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![Warwick Estate 2019 'Reserve' Estate Cabernet Blend 750ml Wine Bottle](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/product/bottle_image/8279-182d25bd7df518b80fefafb43dee362de8fe8007/large_bottle_image.jpg)
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![Warwick Estate 2019 'Reserve' Estate Cabernet Blend 750ml Wine Bottle](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/product/bottle_image/8279-182d25bd7df518b80fefafb43dee362de8fe8007/large_bottle_image.jpg)