The pioneering Norma Ratcliffe, the ‘First Lady’ of the South African wine industry, Warwick Estate’s then owner-winemaker was also the first to bottle a varietal cabernet franc in the Cape, from the 1988 vintage. Fast forward almost four decades and this cabernet franc, from a single vineyard on the estate, is one of the jewels in Warwick’s crown, now made by cellarmaster JD Pretorius who has proved himself to be a sensitive and astute translator of this grape on this property. His 2025 displays an intense, bright perfume of hedgerow fruit, raspberries, tobacco leaf and a whisper of lead pencil-shavings, which leads to a palate of generous vividly defined red-berry fruit balanced with refreshing, vibrant acidity. Around 40% new French oak already feels to be seamlessly melded with the fruit, and the ripe tannins are very fine-grained and pliant. This is utterly charming and will be delicious on arrival but has the structure and fruit depth to age deliciously. Drink from 2030 to 2045. 14.5%
