Rawbones Burchers Block Elgin Merlot & Cabernet Franc 2008 85 Points

Rawbones Burchers Block Elgin Merlot & Cabernet Franc 2008 85 Points


Clear, bright dark cherry red with slight blueberry/purple rim, medium plus viscosity and high concentration, almost impenetrable colour in the center.
Clean, high intensity of ripe plums, blueberries, cassis, leafy floral note, but not herbaceaous, red pepper, earthy loamy note, spicy oak with cedar note, tobacco, delicate balance of French oak.


Dry with some roundness, probably around 3.5 Residual Sugar!, medium acidity, low tannin, medium plus alcohol, new flavours of plum jam and cassis liqueur, some toasty element, well balance with lovely fruit concentration, perfectly ripe, medium lenght and complexity.
Impressive value at less than R 50 trade price, overdelivers in quality over so many boring Cape Bordeaux style blends out there at 3 times the price, 100 % Elgin fruit, at least here a sense of place!

Oak Valley have proved itself as one of South Africa's new wave Bordeaux inspired red blend with their flagship, The Oak Valley Blend, consistently gaining international recognition at less than one third the price of a good Cru Bourgeois!

This is a testament that it is possible to make site or ward specific wine at a very good price, without sacrificing quality, hopefully this will make the mega corporation / wineries realise that multi region/district/ward blends is certainly feasible!

If poured under South African climatic condition, served at 13 degrees Celsius perfect with a chicken stir fried egg noodles, garlic chives, carrot juliennes, cabbage, green beans, and Kikkoman soya sauce.
Now until 2017 if cellared under optimum conditions