Light and fruity on the nose. Lots of dark fruit on the mouth with a long smooth smoky finish. The tannins are still there but well integrated with the oak into a very well balanced experience. Glad I have one more bottle, only wish I had more. I'd say at this point safe to hold onto till upwards of 2020.
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New World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): Chocolate core with dull rim, bricking; leather, some sweat, cedar, cigar box, weedy, currant, wood tannin making it almost seem corked; glycerin, more fruit on the palate, Old World, grainy tannin, weedy; ok.
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bought @ R&V in 2002. this is fully mature and full of beauty. complex with perfect structure and weight with this additional freshness. 28 Caudalie finish! truly outstanding for a SA Red
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This bottle was just awesome tonight. Inky, almost black in color. Refined blackberry fruit, tobacco, leather, lovely Stellenbosch smoke, chocolate, coffee, and a very pleasing tannin structure. A lot of freshness, even after 7-8 years in the bottle, but the complexity you would expect, too. I just love Rust en Vrede. Compared to our other bottle of this, it was everything I said before, but . . . " to 11." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI)
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Dark, dark colors. On the nose, fragrant aromas of cherry pie and some very pleasant smell from my grocery store, I think from when you approach the bakery. On the palate, some great strawberry and tart notes. No tannins, the smoothness leaves a clean lasting impression. Best bottle I've ever had of this consistent joy.
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Getting towards the end of its drinking window, so do not decant or let it sit open too long prior to consumption. I love Rust en Vrede, and their Estate blends are always great. The terroir screams South Africa with classic dark fruit, leather, smoke, and tobacco. I was hoping for a bit more spice like the 2001 and 2002, but it wasn't there. No longer "huge," so don't try to pair it with food that will dominate the subtlety of the wine. Very enjoyable.
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Durham Offline (Bistro 21, Durham): Another heavyish bottle. Full, deep colour, spicy nose. Full, deep fruit, slightly citrusy notes on the end of the nose. Gaining smokey complexity in the glass. Nicely balanced, good length. Nice lift. Guessed as a South African blend, but beyond that no idea. This is very nice indeed. ***(*)
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Visual: clear, dark ruby red. Nose: Mediciney, Taste: softer tannins, full bodied, bit spicy on finish. Finish: A bit different, allot of character, "love it or hate it". Had the wine in a two hours time, I would recommend 2 hours decanting for sure. Drink now or another two years. Not for everyone, very complex, suppressing.
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deep red/purple to the rim - very tobacco and dark fruits on the nose - big "bordeaux" style of wine that is nice drinking but smoky and quite tannic, lacking a little in freshness and fruit - I suspect it will not improve - drink soon
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Complex nose of black current and cassis; tobacco; smoked bacon with asparagus. More black fruit with tobacco flavour; soft tannins...a complex wine structured well...perhaps more aging will better harmonize all these various components.
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Still remarkably young. Young in colour with ruby or cherry red. Not the most expressive nose but clearly a bordeaux inspired bouquet. Tons of interest on the palate and initially this was very tight but opened up as the night went on. With one more bottle in the cellar, I'll keep patient for another 5 years. Delicious.
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Vaughans brought to our home for their farewell party - we tasted in parallel with the 1995 Estate wine. The flavor explodes in the mouth and still plenty of tannins for structure that will keep this wine around for a long time.
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6/28/2023 - Texas Corkscrew wrote: 95 Points
No signs of being over the hill - in perfect drinking condition - a wonderful wine enjoyed by the 8 of us who consumed it.
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1/3/2022 - Texas Corkscrew Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine was excellent, full of fruit, well balanced, perfectly preserved and I think it will last for at least a couple more years.
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6/3/2018 - hypertense Likes this wine:
Tasted better the next day, after decanting.
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1/30/2017 - Nico P. Likes this wine:
18 years old and still very good. Complex, layered, beguiling aromas. Smooth and with just the right amount of tartness. Very pleasantly surprised.
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6/11/2015 - Anative Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light and fruity on the nose. Lots of dark fruit on the mouth with a long smooth smoky finish. The tannins are still there but well integrated with the oak into a very well balanced experience. Glad I have one more bottle, only wish I had more. I'd say at this point safe to hold onto till upwards of 2020.
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9/13/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
New World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): Chocolate core with dull rim, bricking; leather, some sweat, cedar, cigar box, weedy, currant, wood tannin making it almost seem corked; glycerin, more fruit on the palate, Old World, grainy tannin, weedy; ok.
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2/7/2014 - microbox wrote: 93 Points
a stunner. decanting recommended
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6/14/2013 - falp wrote: 91 Points
full bodied - interesting surprise!
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12/10/2010 - microbox wrote: 93 Points
bought @ R&V in 2002. this is fully mature and full of beauty. complex with perfect structure and weight with this additional freshness. 28 Caudalie finish! truly outstanding for a SA Red
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12/6/2009 - rcmcb wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was just awesome tonight. Inky, almost black in color. Refined blackberry fruit, tobacco, leather, lovely Stellenbosch smoke, chocolate, coffee, and a very pleasing tannin structure. A lot of freshness, even after 7-8 years in the bottle, but the complexity you would expect, too. I just love Rust en Vrede. Compared to our other bottle of this, it was everything I said before, but . . . " to 11." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI)
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4/9/2009 - RedLoverJim wrote: 93 Points
Dark, dark colors. On the nose, fragrant aromas of cherry pie and some very pleasant smell from my grocery store, I think from when you approach the bakery. On the palate, some great strawberry and tart notes. No tannins, the smoothness leaves a clean lasting impression. Best bottle I've ever had of this consistent joy.
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1/16/2009 - rcmcb wrote: 91 Points
Getting towards the end of its drinking window, so do not decant or let it sit open too long prior to consumption. I love Rust en Vrede, and their Estate blends are always great. The terroir screams South Africa with classic dark fruit, leather, smoke, and tobacco. I was hoping for a bit more spice like the 2001 and 2002, but it wasn't there. No longer "huge," so don't try to pair it with food that will dominate the subtlety of the wine. Very enjoyable.
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12/4/2008 - SimonG wrote:
Durham Offline (Bistro 21, Durham): Another heavyish bottle. Full, deep colour, spicy nose. Full, deep fruit, slightly citrusy notes on the end of the nose. Gaining smokey complexity in the glass. Nicely balanced, good length. Nice lift. Guessed as a South African blend, but beyond that no idea. This is very nice indeed. ***(*)
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11/8/2008 - Roop Gill wrote: 93 Points
Visual: clear, dark ruby red. Nose: Mediciney, Taste: softer tannins, full bodied, bit spicy on finish. Finish: A bit different, allot of character, "love it or hate it". Had the wine in a two hours time, I would recommend 2 hours decanting for sure. Drink now or another two years. Not for everyone, very complex, suppressing.
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11/5/2008 - RedLoverJim wrote: 90 Points
Drink now
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11/4/2008 - hargy wrote: 87 Points
deep red/purple to the rim - very tobacco and dark fruits on the nose - big "bordeaux" style of wine that is nice drinking but smoky and quite tannic, lacking a little in freshness and fruit - I suspect it will not improve - drink soon
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9/26/2008 - queneau wrote: 92 Points
Complex nose of black current and cassis; tobacco; smoked bacon with asparagus. More black fruit with tobacco flavour; soft tannins...a complex wine structured well...perhaps more aging will better harmonize all these various components.
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7/10/2008 - ken-yyz wrote: 92 Points
Still remarkably young. Young in colour with ruby or cherry red. Not the most expressive nose but clearly a bordeaux inspired bouquet. Tons of interest on the palate and initially this was very tight but opened up as the night went on. With one more bottle in the cellar, I'll keep patient for another 5 years. Delicious.
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2/15/2008 - socidelvino wrote:
Vaughans brought to our home for their farewell party - we tasted in parallel with the 1995 Estate wine. The flavor explodes in the mouth and still plenty of tannins for structure that will keep this wine around for a long time.
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12/28/2007 - drunkstar wrote: 90 Points
pleasant surprise...decanted for a couple of hours...lots of black fruit on the nose and surprisingly bordeaux in character....great with xmas dinner
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7/14/2007 - RedLoverJim wrote: 91 Points
As good as the first bottle I tried!
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5/18/2007 - GuBe wrote: 91 Points
Ávöxtur, krydd, tóbak, leður, vottur af anís. Magnað.
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7/16/2006 - slywka7 Likes this wine:
Lot of smoky notes on this. Very nice.
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6/9/2006 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 86 Points
An International Challenge: Languedoc vs. South Africa (World Service Restaurant, Nottingham): 14.3% abv. 58% cabernet sauvignon; 33% shiraz; 9% merlot.
A young, very black purple. Sweet jammy nose with big black fruits and cassis. Sweet and full on the attack. Big black fruits again. Not a wine to meet down a dark alley. Reasonable stuff.
This got 9 out of 14 votes.
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12/27/2005 - davetong wrote: 89 Points
Needs cellaring a bit longer.
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