Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman philosopher, inspired the limited-edition De Toren Book XVII 2021 wine, which is now available for pre-release reservations.
Pliny, a naturalist, philosopher, and early Roman Empire commander wrote extensively about winemaking and viticulture in Book XVII of his massive encyclopaedic work The Natural History, giving us much of what we know today about ancient wine.
De Toren Private Cellar’s Book XVII wine is widely regarded as one of the finest Bordeaux-style wines to emerge from South Africa, and the latest vintage from 2021 is no exception.
An outstanding wine from an exceptional vintage. There is a bouquet of dark, perfumed blackberries, plum, vanilla, and a hint of sweet oak spice on the nose. This wine delights with a dense yet vibrant palate and flavoursof minerality, blueberries, and freshly ripened black current.”
— CHARLES WILLIAMS, CELLAR MASTER
About this Exceptional Wine and its Twenty-Year Journey
About this Exceptional Wine and its Twenty-Year JourneyBook XVII 2021 is the result of De Toren’s twenty-year meticulous recording and analysis of countless vineyard variables, ranging from soil composition and weather conditions to oceanographic influences. This Bordeaux-style wine, a fitting tribute to ancient and modern viticultural wisdom, reflects Pliny’s own dedication to researching viticultural practices.
A cold, wet winter with low temperatures during the ripening season, along with some rain during harvest, resulted in the preservation of aromatics as well as acidity, contributing to the wine’s expressiveness for the 2021 vintage of this Bordeaux blend crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Harvesting at peak phenolic ripeness produced the best tannin structure and fruit purity.
The wine has a bright red rim that turns ruby in the centre at first glance. Intense aromas of red cherry and raspberry greet the nose, followed by blackberry and cassis with hints of mulberry and sweet tobacco. The richness and density presented on the tongue complement the palate. The tannin structure in this wine is fine and firm, with acidity that adds to its complexity. The esteemed Wine Enthusiast Magazine previously named De Toren’s Book XVII South Africa’s best luxury wine and the country’s highest-rated wine.
Exclusive début reservations of the 2021 vintage of Book XVII are now available to the honorary members of De Toren’s premier community.
For more information and to find a stockist closest to you, visit https://de-toren.com/
