Rickety Bridge winemaker, Wynand Grobler, commented, “We are incredibly proud of our team for the outstanding achievement of scoring 90/100 in the Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2016, and ranking as one of 12 top wines out of the 60 wines judged. This is the fourth time in five years that this exclusive report has selected the Paulina’s Reserve Cabernet as one of South Africa’s best Cabernets.”
According to founder and chair of the panel, Christian Eedes (editor of Winemag.co.za), the line-up consisted of South Africa's most high-profile examples of Cabernet Sauvignon, based on their reputation and success in recent local and international competitions. Submission was by invitation only and the wines were tasted blind. The 12 top–scoring wines were rewarded for their purity of fruit, freshness, structure and depth of flavour.
Paulina’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Viticulture: All grapes used to make this estate wine come from low-yielding (six tonnes/ha) well-manicured vines, situated against the north-westerly slopes of the Dassenberg Mountain and planted in deep decomposed granite Oakleaf soils.
Winemaking: Fermentation took place in an open fermentation tank at 28°C with five manual punch-downs daily. The wine was pressed gently up to 1.2 Bar pressure after 21 days skin contact. Malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks and the wine was then aged in small French Oak barrels (35% new) for 24 months.
Tasting notes: The nose displays classic red and black berries layered with herbal notes, pencil shavings and oak spice. A full, rich lingering palate follows with powerful fruit expression, silky polished tannins, well-integrated oak and balanced natural acidity. This wine is a pleasure to drink from the first sip until the last.
Maturation potential: Peak potential from four years, aging well up to ten years from vintage.
Suggested food pairing: Rack of lamb, chargrilled sirloin or ribeye, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, slow-cooked oxtail or braised venison.
Price: R250
Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve Flagship Range
Rickety Bridge’s Paulina’s Reserve flagship range, comprising a Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc and Semillon, pays homage to the pioneering spirit of Paulina de Villiers. In 1797 the widow Paulina was granted the land that straddles the river and rises up against the mountain at Franschhoek, the land she affectionately named ‘Paulina’s Drift’ which later became Rickety Bridge, making her one of the first women to own and farm land in the Cape. Fable has it that her spirit still hearkens after the land which she tamed, nurtured and loved, and that her whisperings can often be heard rustling through the vineyards as she keeps vigil over the vines.
Paulina’s Reserve Chenin Blanc 2015
Brought back by popular demand
Produced from low-yielding 20-year-old vines, the wine was left on its primary lees for six months ensuring a full and creamy mouth-feel. 100% of the wine was barrel fermented in 80% new oak and left to age for six months in an oak Foudre and small French oak casks.
Ripe peach and pear aromas with notes of spicy oak greet you on the nose, followed by a full, creamy, lingering palate displaying dried fruit and citrus, a good structure and subtle minerality. Ready to be enjoyed now but, with the naturally high acidity, this wine will cellar well up to four years.
Enjoy with crayfish, roast pork or liver pâté on toasted ciabatta.
Price: R130
Paulina’s Reserve Semillon 2013
Produced from very low-yielding 24-year-old vines grown in sandy Tukulu soils on the banks of the Franschhoek River, natural fermentation took place in small French oak barrels (20% new). The must was fermented between 14 and 17 °C and the lees was stirred up daily for three months and then twice weekly for a further seven months.
Lime and apple aromas layered with nuances of honeyed beeswax, follow onto a full, rich palate of honey and citrus, perfectly balanced with well-integrated oak notes and minerality, ending with a delightful lingering creamy finish. Already accessible, this wine has great aging potential for up to at least ten years from harvest.
Enjoy with smoked salmon, shellfish, roast gammon and Asian cuisine.
Price: R130
Rickety Bridge, A Wine And Lifestyle Estate
When visiting Rickety Bridge today, one still crosses a bridge over the Franschhoek River to enter this picturesque sanctuary, which offers much more than the conventional wine estate. Today this Franschhoek wine estate is home to a modern boutique-style winery producing award-winning wines, a ‘tasting centre in the vines’ where one can enjoy the estate’s various wine ranges, and Paulina’s, a popular à la carte restaurant, which also offers gourmet picnics for groups. In addition, the property boasts luxurious 4-star accommodation, a romantic wedding and function venue, a conference centre, a boules court, scenic walks and a playground for children. Rickety Bridge is also one of the designated stops for the popular Franschhoek Wine Tram, and the estate is only 3 kilometres from the quaint village of Franschhoek.
Tel: +27.218762129 · Email: info@ricketybridge.com · Website: www.ricketybridge.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ricketybridgewinery · Twitter: @RicketyBWinery