News> RUST EN VREDE MATCHES CONSISTENCY WITH FOCUS - Monday, September 01, 2003

Rust en Vrede's consistency has again attracted positive international attention with the 2000 vintage Estate Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz all scoring 90 points and over in Wine Spectator's August 2003 round-up.

The Rust en Vrede Estate Wine gathered 92 points with the comment: 'Terrifically driven red and black currant, cassis, bittersweet chocolate, graphite and espresso flavours. Serious depth, with the fruit coursing through the finish despite its youthful tightness.' The Cabernet Sauvignon scored 90 points, and was praised for its balance and tannic structure, while the Shiraz also scored 90 points as a 'streamlined and focused' wine.

This focus is a quality that the wines share with Jean Engelbrecht, owner, and Louis Strydom, the winemaker. They have worked meticulously to ensure that the quality of the wines from the estate are matched in their consistency, year in and out, with the eventual aim of eventually creating only one wine, The Estate Blend that captures all the power, elegance and structure of Rust en Vrede.

Comments Jean ' There are many factors that together contribute to a good wine, but for consistency it has to be the ability of an extremely talented winemaker. It is a pleasure and honour to work alongside Louis and his team and I salute him for the magnificently high standard they achieve so regularly.'

Over the past months, the momentum of this focus has resulted in some notable achievements. The Estate wine has been voted amongst the Top 100 wines of the World in Wine Spectator's Top 100 poll for three years running, the only South African Estate, and one of few in the world, ever to achieve this recognition. Off the back of this remarkable track record, the estate was invited to participate in Wine Spectator's Grand Tour, where the world's best wineries offer a 'road show' to various American cities. Included were many of the world's most notable wineries, including Bordeaux first-growth châteaus Lafite Rothschild, Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild; California's Beringer, Caymus, Diamond Creek and Opus One; Burgundy's Louis Jadot; the
Rhône's E. Guigal; Italy's Angelo Gaja, Ornellaia and Sassicaia; and many more.

Regarding Jean Engelbrecht's desire to move towards a single wine, Wine Spectator wryly comments that 'he might want to hold off on that plan. while the estate wine [2000] is very serious indeed, the varietal bottlings are also impressive.' As building blocks or separate entities, the wines of Rust en Vrede continue to enhance South Africa's reputation in the wine world.