1999 Rust en Vrede Estate Wine

(60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% shiraz and 10% merlot) Deep red-ruby. Complex, inviting aromas of blackberry, plum, milk chocolate, pipe tobacco, mocha, iron, hot stones, pepper and magnolia; I might have picked this blind as a Graves. Concentrated and sweet, with nicely embedded acids and underlying minerality contributing to the impression of structure. Flavors of currant, espresso, leather, chocolate and mint. The dusty, fine tannins arrive late, giving the finish a chance to expand. Highly aromatic, claret-like finishing notes of tobacco leaf and woodsmoke. Not a large-scaled vintage for this bottling, but more sophisticated than many previous offerings.