Experience extreme care: The 2018 vintage of the ultra-lavish BOOK XVII is an expression of meticulous winemaking
Savour one of the world’s finest examples of winemaking, when you sip on the extraordinary BOOK XVII. This opulent, limited-edition wine is meticulously handcrafted by De Toren Private Cellar in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
It is a wine with a reputation that precedes it – so much so, that annual client pre-bookings secure about two thirds of the mere 1 400 bottles that are lovingly produced each year. The remaining bottles of the 2018 vintage have now been released.
This year marks the 9th vintage release of this exceptionally exclusive wine. The 2018 vintage of this fabled South African Bordeaux-style blend is even richer and more elegant than before.
The full-bodied BOOK XVII has often been compared to the famed “Super Tuscans” of the world – those wines characterized by bold winemaking, experimentation with Bordeaux barriques, and an embracing of modern viticulture. BOOK XVII indeed encompasses all this and has been hailed as South Africa’s most luxurious wine. It is also the highest-ever rated South African wine by one of the globe’s leading voices in wine, the US-based Wine Enthusiast.
Standing proud amongst the world’s best, De Toren’s BOOK XVII is an exceptional example of extreme viticulture – no expense or measure of care is spared in its making. It is a showcase wine that ably demonstrates to the world the lofty heights a South African cellar can reach. Uncompromising quality is its raison d’être.
This lush, handcrafted red blend evolved out of De Toren’s other acclaimed Bordeaux-style blends. A symphonic merging of the estate’s own Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, the opulent BOOK XVII 2018 vintage exudes phenomenal concentration and a desirable freshness. It is remarkably sophisticated and the perfect amount of lean. It has a super-ripe crème de cassis, fruitcake and fig-scented bouquet with a palate that is full-bodied and boasts a silky-smooth tannin structure.
Speaking of this beautifully complex wine, De Toren Cellar Master, Charles Williams states: “The sensational BOOK XVII is a celebration of this vintage’s magnificent expression of fruit, its impressively bold characteristics, yet subtle elegance. This, when paired with the team’s resolute standards, duteous attention to detail, and absolute passion, makes for a combination that is out of this world.”
With BOOK XVII, De Toren enlists the original virtues of making wine by hand and applying intense attention to detail to each phase. This approach is combined with up-to-the-minute viticulture and viniculture technology.
Infra-red aerial imaging is used to specifically identify vines of only the highest quality, which are then hand-pruned to grow a mere four to six perfectly balanced bunches per single vine. Each of these bunches receives individual attention and a very specific manicuring during the ripening process, after which, the bunches are hand-harvested and gently destemmed by a very select team of skilled female harvesters. De Toren is known for only employing women to tend the vineyards and has done so since inception as part of its quest for perfection. In line with the estate’s philosophy of extreme care and craftsmanship, the winemaking team is of the belief that women have softer, smaller hands and a more delicate touch when working with the grape bunches, which is necessary when hand-crafting a product with the utmost care.
At the culmination of the winemaking process, each precious bottle is individually labelled and numbered by hand. This spectacular wine is presented in a specially handcrafted and sealed wooden display case, accompanied by an iconic key to ensure the safekeeping of this collector’s item. BOOK XVII has an aging potential of 40 years plus; it will reward whether enjoyed upon purchase or stored for future pleasure…
Serving Notes:
The optimal temperature to serve this wine is at 15-18 degrees centigrade.
Varietals:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc.
To participate in a virtual tasting experience, or to order this wine, send an e-mail to info@de-toren.com. For more information on the estate, visit https://de-toren.com/.
