LE RICHE, STELLENBOSCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON SPECIALISTS FOR 27 YEARS

For 27 years, Le Riche have made it their business to produce the definitive expression of a Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, to great acclaim. From the very beginning, Le Riche have pursued a steadfast dedication to Cabernet Sauvignon, the veritable ‘King of Grapes’. Based in Stellenbosch, the ‘Kingdom of Cabernet’ — South Africa’s prime Cabernet territory — this commitment was optimal, with Cabernet Sauvignon being the backbone on which the famous wine region was built. Stellenbosch’s splendid geographical attributes with an array of elevation, aspects and ancient soils and a Mediterranean climate with maritime influences lie at the core of the excellent quality of Stellenbosch Cabernet.

Combining decades of experience and knowledge, the Le Riche family meticulously select and source only the highest-quality fruit from the best possible terroirs Stellenbosch has to offer. They work with a close network of trusted long-term, established wine farmers with unique vineyards based in the Stellenbosch wards of Jonkershoek and Simonsberg, along with the upper and lower foothills of the Helderberg Mountain. Every ward or region showcases vastly different terroir characteristics, adding compelling complexity to the wine.

Following their ethos of quality, elegance and consistency, their winemaking style is orientated around crafting the best Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignons, with minimal interference, letting the exceptional terroir speak for itself. The resulting wines show great elegance and class, consistently proving to be of superb quality and maturation potential.

LE RICHE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021

The backbone of the range, it is a wine that delivers all the qualities that a Le Riche Cabernet should. Supple, elegant and rich with layers of fruit, this is Le Riche’s expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit for this wine is sourced from selected vineyard sites in the Stellenbosch wards of Jonkershoek, Simonsberg, Helderberg Mountain and Helderberg Coastal. The conscientiously considered mix of cool gravelly slopes facing False Bay and rich red granitic sols around Stellenbosch ensure complexity and a beautiful balance of aromas and flavours in the final wine. This wine spent 22 months in 225L French oak barrels, 18% new oak.

Tasting Notes: The bouquet displays inviting aromas of plum, cherry and blackcurrant with hints of violet and cedar. On the palate the wine is fruit forward showing delicious fresh black fruits and a juicy entry. Firm tannins assist in creating a voluptuous, creamy mouthfeel which is balanced by a long, appetising finish. A classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon that can be enjoyed young or will benefit beautifully from cellaring.

Purchase: The Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is available for purchase at the Le Riche Cellar, at specialist wine stores nationally and online at www.leriche.co.za for R350 per bottle.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

Beef Fillet with a Cream and Pepper Corn Sauce
Springbok Ravioli with Butternut

MORE ABOUT LE RICHE WINES

Etienne Le Riche, often referred to as the ‘King of South African Cabernet Sauvignon’, has been pivotal in the story of Cape Cabernet, consistently making some of South Africa’s best Cabernet Sauvignon for over 35 years. During a glorious 20-vintage winemaking era at Rustenberg Wines, he made the first certified Cabernet in South Africa — a 1971 Rustenberg Cabernet — was a founder member of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) and, amongst many prestigious accolades, was heralded as John Platter’s SA Wine Guide 1990 Wine Man of the Year.

His dream to own his own winery led him to establish Le Riche in 1996, initially operating from Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, with the Le Riche business model of sourcing the highest quality fruit from a select group of trusted Stellenbosch grape growers with exceptional vineyards.

By 2010, Etienne had been joined by his children, Yvonne and Christo, to assist in the growing business. One of their first tasks was identifying a new home for Le Riche wines. In 2013, the Le Riche family built a new winery in Raithby on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. With traditional open-top concrete fermentation tanks mixed with a modern minimum intervention winemaking approach, the winery provides a platform to create ultra-premium wines with Le Riche’s trademark elegance and finesse. The first vintage in the new cellar was released in 2014.

Today Le Riche is under the stewardship of Christo and Yvonne. While founder Etienne le Riche is now retired, he still acts in an advisory role, ensuring the winery continues the pursuit of expressing the finest Cabernet possible.

Christo Le Riche studied winemaking and viticulture, and after a handful of years gaining international and local experience with the very best in the industry, he joined Le Riche as winemaker in 2010. Now Director and Cellarmaster, Christo has rapidly gained a reputation as a Cabernet Sauvignon pioneer in his own right, with five Platter’s 5-Stars under his belt, Platter’s Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year in 2019 and 2023, the Global Fine Wine Challenge Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy and Runner-up in 2021, excellent ratings from local and international wine critics and, hot-off-the-press a coveted ‘Best in Class’ for the 2020 Reserve at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. Christo’s passion for Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon drives Le Riche Wines’ search to better understand its region. He is also a founder and current chairman of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective, an organisation promoting the merits of the region’s Cabernets on a local and global stage. Following in his father’s footsteps, Christo also recently welcomed as a new member of The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG).

Yvonne Le Riche, a Cape Wine Master and graduate in politics and economics, looks after exports and logistics, and is always ready with an opinion on wine style and direction. Christo and Yvonne are ably assisted by two other core team members, Francois le Riche, Commercial Manager and Mark Daniels, Assistant Winemaker who has been with Le Riche Wines since the very beginning.