Dear *|FNAME|*,

From a South African wine legend – and exclusive to Wine Cellar – we’re excited to offer Norma Ratcliffe's swansong: the Warwick Norma Ratcliffe 2013. She is widely recognised as SA’s ‘first lady’ of wine, having been the first woman to join the CWG as well as chair it.

In light of Norma’s pioneering work with Cabernet Franc, the last wine she ever made is fittingly composed of 50% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. We recently tasted over 70 wines from the 2013 vintage, and this ranks as one of the finest!

Classic Cab Franc aromatics of pencil shavings and dried herbs dominate a dark fruit undercurrent. It still possesses great structure, with a graphite drive to the texture. The hallmarks of this wine are its freshness and incredibly fine, softened tannins. Fantastically complex and ready to enjoy now, it will slowly evolve over the next decade.

After farming the vineyards and selling off the grapes to co-ops to sustain the business, Norma’s first Warwick La Femme Bleu Cabernet Sauvignon bottling from 1984 made a statement and laid the foundation for the subsequent success of Warwick. Her dedicated work with Cabernet Franc elevated the variety's standing locally, and examples from the late '80s and '90s remain reference points for South Africa.

This is a limited bottling and, being Norma's last, a true collector's item. All orders will be fulfilled from 15 March.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Vinous regards,

Tasting notes

Warwick Norma Ratcliffe Red 2013

'There is an impressive freshness to the wine straight out of the gate. The Cabernet Franc class shines through and offers a gradual transition from dark berry fruit, floral perfume, and tertiary tobacco to attractive dark chocolate and cocoa notes. The freshness is on both the nose and palate. The standout feature is the poised aged fruit and lively entry on the palate, cascading to a rich, layered mouthfeel with a good balance of power and finesse. The tannins nicely ameliorated and dry. Very classy indeed – it shows off Norma Ratcliffe’s deft touch with Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon. It is just entering its drinking window and is a pleasure to start enjoying, but it should hold this plateau for 5 to 10 years.’ – James Pietersen, Feb 2023

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