The 2020 MR de Compostella Bordeaux blend was in the view of many critics and insiders (including Vinous and South Africa’s top wine expert, Master of Wine Greg Sherwood) perhaps the single greatest South African red wine ever made up to that point. Sherwood rated it 98 points – above such Napa Cabernet icons as Harlan and Screaming Eagle.
But he rates the newly-released 2021 vintage even higher, at 99 points…indeed, it’s THE top South African red wine ever!
The Wine Advocate also rates this the top Compostella ever, saying:
Instantly impressive in the glass and still just a baby, the 2021 De Compostella is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 17% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Bursting with a red-fruited frame, the expression is still tight and has good bones. Layers of tasty red and black fruit essences sway with dusty florals before oak and brown baking spices appear with focus and precision. Full-bodied, the palate has gobs of complexity and no shortness of hedonistic pleasure. The longer the wine sits on the palate, the more it reveals its depth and complexity and gains momentum to go the distance. Concluding with a dense and chewy frame, this will need a few more years to come around but will govern for more than two decades. Only 5,500 bottles were produced, and I believe this is the best vintage yet!
We’ve said this before, but can you imagine what this would cost if it was from Napa? Or even more so from Bordeaux?!
