Le Riche was established in 1996 by Etienne Le Riche, “estate-winemaker-turned-garagiste”, after two decades of making wine at the historic Rustenberg estate. His son, Christo, was helping with the punchdowns at the winery’s open-top concrete fermenters when he was as young as 14 years’ old and is now the head winemaker. Cabernet specialists through and through, Etienne and Christo have an intimate knowledge of the different Cabernet terroirs of Stellenbosch, working with and sourcing from over a dozen growers in this fascinating region.
Christo intends his Reserve to always be “the best expression of Stellenbosch Cab that we possibly can put together” and thus the exact make-up of vineyards changes with the vintage. The 2020 is sourced from Cabernet vines in the Helderberg Coastal sub-region (65% of the blend), the Simonsberg (22%), and the Helderberg (13%). There is a purity and energy in this 2020 which is captivating. Stylish new French oak is matched by impressive fruit concentration and depth, and is beautifully integrated after 24 months in 225L barrels (76% new) and a further year in bottle.
For us, this is the best Le Riche Reserve yet and – as Tim Atkin says in his comprehensive South Africa 2023 Special Report – “one of the best-ever reds” from Stellenbosch. Powerful, but elegant, with statuesque tannins and an incredibly long, saline finish; the high proportion of fruit from the Helderberg Coastal area, markedly influenced by the cooling breezes of False Bay, is evident in the drive and the grip here. This was one of the top three red wines in Tim’s new report (the other two were Syrahs), and the only Cabernet Sauvignon to score 99pts. 12,500 bottles were produced.
