This is not so much news of a forthcoming release as words of encouragement to fossick around for the last bottles of a remarkable wine. The drop in question is widely rated as the best cabernet sauvignon yet to emerge from South Africa, from one of this country’s driest summers on record, the very taught, refined and savoury Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 from Plaisir de Merle. This Stellenbosch property has been the grateful recipient of massive expenditure on all areas of wine production from the vineyard upwards including a barrel ‘chai’ modelled on Chateau Margaux, whose winemaker, Paul Pontallier, has supervised the estate’s emergence as a New World powerhouse. He’s clearly earned his fee. The Australian release of the 1995 vintage is imminent.
