Anthonij Rupert Optima 2021
Two Franschhoek and Darling sites, matched grape by grape to their ideal soil, then blended into one Bordeaux-style red.
Grape Varietals & Region: A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The fruit is drawn from two distinct sites the L’Ormarins Estate in Franschhoek and the Rooderust farm in Darling with specific blocks at each identified for their unique soil type and climatic conditions, so every component of the final blend comes from the site best suited to it. Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate is part of the Rupert family’s wine portfolio, based on L’Ormarins, one of Franschhoek’s oldest properties, and named in memory of Anthonij Rupert.
Taste Profile: A seductive interplay of spice and red and blackberry fruits on both the nose and palate. The mouth is succulent, packed with black cherry, blueberry and plum alongside hints of cedar, cocoa and tobacco. Soft and spicy on the palate, with a velvety texture and powdery fine tannins superbly structured, with complexity, layers, richness and power, but never chunky or aggressive. The bouquet is rich, rounded and refined, with restrained oak and a deliciously long finish. Ages well for 1015 years from vintage with proper storage.
Winemaking Process: An optical sorting machine ensures only the best-quality grapes are used. The wine ferments dry on the skins and undergoes extended post-fermentation maceration for deep colour and a firm tannin structure that supports long ageing. Malolactic barrel fermentation completes before the wine is racked off the lees. Each component is aged separately, then matured together in 225L French oak barrels for 20 months, with only 30% first-fill barrels used.
Winemaker: Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate operates on L’Ormarins, a historic Franschhoek farm first planted in the 17th century and now part of the Rupert family’s wine holdings. The estate is named in memory of Anthonij Rupert, and its winemaking team continues to match individual grape varieties to the specific L’Ormarins and Rooderust sites that suit them best the same site-driven approach that shapes Optima’s blend each vintage.
