Laurence Graff Reserve 2018

An Icon in the Making | Delaire Graff Estate Has Unveiled Its Iconic Flagship Laurence Graff Reserve 2018

A truly iconic wine, crafted with patience, careful restraint and vision by Winemaker Morné Vrey and his team, the Laurence Graff Reserve 2018 exemplifies a pursuit of perfection and its namesake’s passion for the truly exceptional.

Laurence Graff OBE established Graff in London in 1960, his fascination with the emotional power of gemstones transformed the House into a global hallmark of innovation and excellence.

Laurence Graff Reserve 2018
Laurence Graff

While the greatest forces of nature have given us rough diamonds, it takes the hands of an artisan to make light dance through a stone, and in the same way, each grape within the vineyard holds a story that can only unfold at the hands of a master winemaker.

Planted in 2001, the vineyards in which the Laurence Graff Reserve grows are expressive of their regionality. For Cabernet Sauvignon, the intriguing earthiness and elegant tannic structure are the hallmarks of Banghoek’s rich soil. Planted on the lower slopes of the valley at Delaire Graff Estate, the rich red soils run deep, heeding smaller berry sizes with a more intense flavour. The fingerprint of the region can be distinctly identified by subtle nuances of mint and remnants of indigenous fynbos.

Laurence Graff Reserve 2018

Commenting Delaire Graff Estate Winemaker, Morné Vrey said: “Each stage of our wine-making process was guided by a vision of achieving complete perfection. The result is a truly exceptional vintage with rich, plush, classically elegant flavours that find complete harmony in their expressive balance.”

Produced with meticulous care, patience and restraint. Grapes were handpicked at 25.5 balling and hand sorted. Whole berry fermentation and basket pressing ensured gentle extraction of fruit. The wine was matured in 80% new French oak for 18 months. A rigorous selection process identified the five best barrels – one from each of the five coopers used in the Delaire Graff cellar – each barrel bringing forth a specific desired characteristic in the wine.

Garden Art Delaire Graff

TASTING NOTES
The nose is characterised by freshness and spice, vanilla pod, dark chocolate and hay aromas. Silky and smooth on entry, the wine has a flinty minerality with subtle tannins and huge length and persistence. Tangy, ripe, and concentrated red berries together with classic flavours of brambles and cassis dominate the flavour profile.

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