Mvemve Raats De Compostella 2022 Bottle size: 750ml

‘Another year and another incredible red release from what has to be South Africa’s most consistent premium brand. The 2022 MR de Compostella is a blend of 23% Cabernet Franc, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot sourced from 10 to 25 years old vines grown on decomposed granite and clay / sandstone soils in Stellenbosch. The aromas of this classy red are complex and utterly seductive with delicately interwoven layers of sweet cedar, graphite, lapsang tea, and iodine before hints of wet undergrowth, tilled earth, damson plum and saline creme de cassis. The palate is deliciously tight knit, fine grained and intense with salty black currant, tart black cherry, hints of Christmas cake, smokey cured meats and subtle sweet vanilla oak spice nuances. The focus of this beautiful wine recalls the elegance and pinpoint weightless precision of the 2017 vintage bolstered by a sleek, sumptuous, fleshy accessible opulence not dissimilar to the incredibly popular 2020 vintage. Just when you think the Cabernet Sauvignon is going to assert its own unique character, then the silky, creamy, perfumed elegance of the Cabernet Franc re-emerges assertively to bestow this fabulous vintage with flesh, concentration and an elegant seductive depth. Always a tough act following an iconic vintage like 2021, but 2022 succeeds immaculately. Well done to the MR team once again. Drink from 2025 to 2040+.’ - Greg Sherwood MW, 96+/100

‘A full-bodied, sophisticated red blend that exudes complex notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, sage, pencil shavings and whole nutmeg. Very fresh, just-ripe black fruit. Firm, chalky and well-framed with a filled-in midpalate and fine-grained tannins that spread across the palate. 44% cabernet sauvignon, 23% cabernet franc, 20% malbec, 9% merlot and 4% petit verdot. Try from 2026.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 96/100

‘MR is a very well-judged assemblage of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 20% Malbec, 9% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, sourced from 13 different vineyards in Stellenbosch. It doesn't quite have the finesse of the 2021, but this has plenty of grip and sinew, assertive chocolatey oak, bramble, cassis and red berry flavours and a spine of tannin and acidity. 2027-40’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2024, 95/100