Chateau Libertas 80th birthday
To celebrate this year’s 80th birthday of Chateau Libertas, believed to be South Africa’s oldest red blend, a limited-edition bottling of the 2010 vintage has just been released.
The “oupa” of red blends has been made every year since 1932. Just 4 000 bottles of the birthday blend have been made, featuring a unique label depicting some of the highlights of the wine’s history.
To make the wine, Bonny van Niekerk had first pick of the best grapes and once vinified, the best components for wood maturation were selected. “It’s our best-of-best blend,” she says. “It is more complex and layered in taste with a bold structure but shows all the lovely trademark ripe berry and plum notes, enhanced by oak spice that you would expect from Chateau Libertas.
It is drinking terrifically now but should really come into its own over the next five years or so.” As always, this Chateau Libertas features Cabernet Sauvignon that was blended with Merlot, Shiraz and Petit Verdot.
The grapes were picked from premier, low-yielding vines in Stellenbosch and Darling. Available from the Bergkelder Vinotèque Wine Bank in Stellenbosch, its online wine shop, Vinoteque, as well as selected outlets of the major supermarket and liquor chains, the 750 ml wine is expected to retail for around R65 a bottle.
