DE TOREN PRIVATE CELLAR CELEBRATES A DECADE OF QUALITY WINEMAKING

July 2009

De Toren Private Cellar, home to one of South Africa's jewels in Fusion V, has unveiled a limited release wine titled Decade to celebrate 10 years of producing exceptional wines.

De Toren, a boutique red wine cellar that lies on the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch overlooking False Bay, made a dramatic impact on the global wine market when its debut 1999 vintage Fusion V won a gold medal at the prestigious 2001 London International Wine & Spirits Challenge and was awarded 90 points by influential wine writer Robert J Parker.

In 2009 the De Toren Fusion V received an outstanding 5-star rating in the John Platter South African Wines guide, a fitting way to celebrate 10 years in the wine industry.

This capped a decade of success in which Fusion V, a blend of five classic Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, has consistently been scored 90 points or higher by respected international wine titles - all eight vintages of De Toren Fusion V have been rated 90 points and higher by leading US wine magazine Wine Spectator.

Given the impact that the wine has made across the globe, it was no big surprise when De Toren was rated one of the 20 best new wineries in the world by the respected American magazine Food and Wine in 2004.

As part of its birthday celebration De Toren has released Decade, a limited edition blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from the 2006 vintage. The unusual blend was created after owner Emil den Dulk enjoyed an exceptional example of this blend from Argentinean winery Catena Zapata in Mendoza.

"Inspired by the Catena Vineyards of Argentina we decided to take out best barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec to make a truly unique blended wine that has never been done in South Africa. We chose the 2006 vintage because that is the extraordinary quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec that went into our 5-star Fusion V," said Den Dulk.

Decade spent 12 months in 100% new French and American oak barrels, and only 1800 bottles have been produced. The individually numbered bottles are signed by the owner and the winemaker, and will only be available directly from the farm.

The wine oozes personality, bringing out the power of Cabernet Sauvignon and laced with the red fruit flavours of Malbec and the mocha notes from the oak barrels.

The wine was unveiled at a celebratory food and wine pairing lunch at Tintswalo Atlantic in Hout Bay, Cape Town on Wednesday July 29. At the event food was paired with previous vintages of Fusion V, including the maiden 1999 vintage.

De Toren has a gentle approach to winemaking - the grapes are hand-picked and sorted to protect the berries, a traditional basket-press is used and there are no pumps - a lift shaft raises a 4 000 litre tank which enables gravity to gently draw the juice from the tank. The shaft is the distinctive tower which gives the winery its name.

Winemaker Albie Koch, who has been with De Toren since the first harvest in 1999, also produces a second top quality red blend De Toren Z (pronounced Zee) which is a more accessible Bordeaux wine style, being fruitier and with less tannins.

Owners Emil and Sonette den Dulk left the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg in 1991 to seek solace in the serene surroundings of Stellenbosch. They consider the Polkadraai Hills, where the farm is situated, to be the undiscovered jewel of the South African wine industry. "We're simply delighted to have stumbled upon this little piece of heaven," Emil said.

De Toren is open to the public by appointment only. Visit www.de-toren.com or call (021) 881 3119.

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