Vriesenhof Jan Boland Coetzee 2023

Vriesenhof Jan Boland Coetzee is a tribute wine, named for the Vriesenhof founder himself — a South African rugby and wine icon who spent over a decade at Kanonkop before striking out on his own on the foothills of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The wine embodies a lifetime of his observation and wisdom among the vines: a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, each component vinified separately before being brought together and matured for 20 months in French oak. The result is a delightful, intensely ruby-coloured red, offering aromas of ripe plum, redcurrant and subtle wood spice, with Cabernet Franc lending earthy spice and Cabernet Sauvignon providing firm, juicy structure. Smooth, finely textured tannins carry it through to a long, satisfying finish — a fitting homage to the man behind it.