The Tops@ Lifestyle Wine of the Week
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ANTHONIJ RUPERT OPTIMA 2020
VINTAGE NOTES: The 2020 vintage yield was significantly higher than the preceding
2019 vintage, which had experienced three years of severe drought. Changing weather
conditions during the flowering and fruit set period in October resulted in some uneven
ripening, but moderate weather during the growing season produced strong growth and
denser canopies. The slightly cooler conditions leading up to harvest produced excellent
fruit with balanced acidity and concentrated flavours.
WINEMAKING NOTES: Grapes are hand-picked, placed in small lug boxes, and then
transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. The whole berries are double-sorted in the
cellar using an optical sorting machine to ensure that only the best quality grapes are used.
The must was fermented dry on the skins and then macerated for an extended period of
time after fermentation. This results in a deep colour and a good tannin structure. Fermentation
took place in a combination of French oak and stainless steel tanks followed by
malolactic fermentation barrel. Each component was matured separately in 225L French
oak barrels for 20 months, with 30% of the barrels being new oak.
TASTING NOTES: Complex bouquet of fruitcake, cedar, cocoa and a perfumed whiff
of dried lavender. Broad, fleshy and succulent with all of that the nose promises being
delivered on the palate. Spice sprinkled cedar with rich dark fruitcake flavour. Wonderfully
soft, rounded and silky palate that shows cohesion and refinement. Impressive density and
concentration that doesn’t overwhelm. Nor does the oak used in the maturation of this
impressive blend. Plush, comfortable and eminently rewarding with a lingering dry tail.
VINTAGE NOTES: The 2020 vintage yield was significantly higher than the preceding
2019 vintage, which had experienced three years of severe drought. Changing weather
conditions during the flowering and fruit set period in October resulted in some uneven
ripening, but moderate weather during the growing season produced strong growth and
denser canopies. The slightly cooler conditions leading up to harvest produced excellent
fruit with balanced acidity and concentrated flavours.
WINEMAKING NOTES: Grapes are hand-picked, placed in small lug boxes, and then
transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck. The whole berries are double-sorted in the
cellar using an optical sorting machine to ensure that only the best quality grapes are used.
The must was fermented dry on the skins and then macerated for an extended period of
time after fermentation. This results in a deep colour and a good tannin structure. Fermentation
took place in a combination of French oak and stainless steel tanks followed by
malolactic fermentation barrel. Each component was matured separately in 225L French
oak barrels for 20 months, with 30% of the barrels being new oak.
TASTING NOTES: Complex bouquet of fruitcake, cedar, cocoa and a perfumed whiff
of dried lavender. Broad, fleshy and succulent with all of that the nose promises being
delivered on the palate. Spice sprinkled cedar with rich dark fruitcake flavour. Wonderfully
soft, rounded and silky palate that shows cohesion and refinement. Impressive density and
concentration that doesn’t overwhelm. Nor does the oak used in the maturation of this
impressive blend. Plush, comfortable and eminently rewarding with a lingering dry tail.
