Rustenberg - Peter Barlow, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch - 2020 (750ml)

Wine Composition

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemakers Comments

The name of this wine pays tribute to the man who recognized the potential of Rustenberg, and bought the farm in 1941, reuniting the property, restoring its buildings and investing in its potential to make world class wines. The oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard on the estate is named the Peter Barlow block and consistently produces powerful, long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon that is given the best possible treatment in the cellar. Peter's family now continues his legacy. We recommend decanting this wine before serving. Concentrated cassis, black cherries and some herbaceousness on the nose and palate.

Awards 

John Platter | 94 Points

Technical Analysis

Alcohol Percentage

14.5% 

pH

3.59

TA

5.7 g/l 

RS

2.6 g/l 

Winemaker 

Name - Randolph Christians

Winery

Rustenberg has a wine-growing history dating back to 1682, when Roelof Pasman from Meurs, near the Rhine, recognized its wine-growing potential. By 1781 some 3000 cases of wine were produced on the farm. Production doubled by the end of the century and a new cellar was built. The wine has been bottled at this cellar for an unbroken period since 1892.

In the early 1800s, Rustenberg was divided by owner Jacob Eksteen and a section was given to his son-in-law, who named it Schoongezicht and sold it soon after. Rustenberg and Schoongezicht were at their peak around 1812, with beautiful homesteads and flourishing vineyards. But by mid-century, recession coupled with disease in the vines, brought bankruptcy and dispossession.

Schoongezicht was rescued in 1892 by John X Merriman (who was to become Prime Minister of the Cape), and Rustenberg by his brother-in-law Sir Jacob Barry. Together they revitalized the farms. The fruit was sent to Covent Garden; new vines were grafted onto disease-resistant American rootstock; wines were exported to England and the Continent – and even found in Siberia.

In 1941 Peter and Pamela Barlow bought Rustenberg, later acquiring Schoongezicht and reuniting the properties. Their son Simon took over the running of the farm in 1987. The Barlows have been at Rustenberg for over 60 years: the longest period any one family has owned the farm.