Nothing is left to chance with the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec. Taking its name from the Latin for 'patron', this is a wine where winemaking is turned not just into an art form, but into an obsession. The tiny harvest goes through an incredibly stringent selection process with only the finest old Malbec vines on the property being considered for use. Once chosen, individual bunches are selected at harvest and then, post-destemming, individual grapes. Following a long, yet cool, fermentation, the Patronus rests in oak for 18 months. Delivered in this stunning presentation case, the resulting wine is as fine a Malbec as you will find. Powerful and full-bodied, it is also elegant, poised, and refined, with the tannins providing background structure and ensuring a long, long life.
Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Oct 2024)
Taste
Inky blue-black, the bouquet unfurls gently in the glass, revealing blueberries, blackberries and black cherries, coconut, tobacco and subtle vanilla. Mouth filling from the first, the Patronus isn't explosive, but like a fine Bordeaux it offers layer upon layer of flavour that builds into an astonishingly complex whole. Blueberries, black cherries, cassis, mint, raspberries, crushed minerals, savoury herbs and creamy bitter chocolate envelope the palate before red berries, dry, firm tannins and a cleansing acidity come in at the finish. Mighty and magnificent with a mellow edge, the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec is a singular fine wine that is a must-taste for all lovers of serious Malbec wines.
About the Producer
De Toren acquired their first vineyards in 1991 and have redefined the Bordeaux wine concept in South Africa. Their aim was to create an environment where vines produce flawless fruit and then guard these grapes as they are gently steered from vineyard to cellar to bottle. Fastidious about all aspects of production, when it comes to the Book 17 nothing is left to chance, and quality trumps quantity every ti...