Norma Ratcliffe 2013: The last ever release from SA’s ‘first lady’ of wine

Norma Ratcliffe 2013

The last ever release from SA’s ‘first lady’ of wine

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!

Norma Ratcliffe 2013: The last ever release from SA’s ‘first lady’ of wine

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.

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