Bordeaux Theme
Live Virtual Auction, 26 March 2023
Bordeaux Fine Wine
About this Item
Le Riche was founded in 1996 by Etienne le Riche, one of the founding members of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG). Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, it is now run by Etienne’s son, Christo and daughter, Yvonne. Le Riche are known for premium red wines in a classic South African style. Grapes are selected from top growers in Stellenbosch, coming from mainly two soil types – decomposed granite soils and sandy gravel. The winemaking approach is traditionally simplistic, yet innovative.
Father and Son - The Cabernet Legacy Lives on
The lot consists of 12 bottles of Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a vertical line-up from 2005 to 2016. The vintages 2005 through to 2009 were produced by Etienne le Riche, 2010 was a collaboration harvest between Etienne and Christo and then 2011 through to 2016 were made by Christo. Each of these bottles were also signed by either Etienne or Christo with the 2010 vintage signed by both. A special tribute to both Father and Son and the Cabernet Legacy that has been passed on, and set forth into the second generation.
The lot includes two Cabernet Sauvignon’s of the year, as was awarded by The Platters’ Guide, for the 2005 and 2015 vintage. Etienne le Riche spent 20 years at Rustenberg in Stellenbosch before he founded Le Riche Wines, which is now run as a family concern with both son, Christo, and daughter, Yvonne involved. Cabernet Sauvignon is the specialty and this Reserve is an instant classic.
Critics Ratings
2005- 'According to Etienne Le Riche, this is one of his greatest Cabernet Sauvignons, which might explain why it was John Platter’s Red Wine of the Year in 2005. Terrific elegance and definition here, with flavours of grilled meat, cassis, licquorice, graphite and tobacco. Beautifully evolved undergrowth notes and ripe sweet tannins. A blend of Cabernet fruit from Firgrove, and Jonkershoek this was made in classical open top concrete fermenters. Ready now, but plenty of life and pleasure still to come. A corker of a Cabernet.’ – John Stimpfig, Decanter.com, 93/100
2006 - ‘Not deep, but a glowing blood red. Lovely development on the nose – quite meaty (biltong!), but also classic notes of capsicum and blackcurrant leaf. Rich fruit but focused, tightly restrained, fine ripe tannins and so integrated. Stylish and bold but without conscious effort, like the practised dashed-off signature of a particularly confident statesman.’ – Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sep 2020)
2007 - 'No overripe fruit here. Instead, this is leafy, juicy and fresh with cassis and savoury cigar box. The acidity is wonderfully integrated with the tannins and the almost unnoticeable oak. And it wears the 14.5% alcohol very, very lightly. Benchmark stuff and a pleasure to drink.’ – Decanter.com, 92/100
2008 - '2008 estate flagship in much riper, more alcoholic mould, in difficult vintage. Intense & sumptuous dark berries, powerful oak in support, but lacks elegance & freshness of 2007 (4.5stars).' - James Pietersen, Platter's SA Wine Guide 2017, 4*
2009 - ‘Etienne Le Riche is a brilliant interpreter of Cape Cabernet, blending grapes from three sources to achive greater complexity. Nuanced and poised, with savoury tannins and classic cigar box, tobacco and cassis flavours, this is a very polished red with a long, tapering finish. Good value too. Drink: 2013 – 20’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2013, 94/100.
2010 - 'Undoubtedly impressive, flattering & powerful 2010, though without the harmonious elegance of some earlier vintages - big, balanced 15% alcohol relevant here. Ripe, intense flavours - more loganberry than blackcurrant. Gorgeously melting but firm tannins.' - Tim James, Platter's SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
2011 - 'As you’d expect, the Le Riches use their best vineyards for their reserve bottling. This is less alcoholic than the strapping 2010 and better for it. Granular tannins, intense but well balanced fruit flavour, bright acidity, deftly integrated oak and the structure to age. Superb. Drink: 2014-22’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2014, 94/100.
2012 - ‘There’s slightly less new oak here than on the 2011 and I think the wine is better for it. The Le Riches have a gentler touch with Cabernet than almost anyone else in the Cape and this proves it. Classic Cabernet combining freshness with concentration, fruit weight with tannins. Drink: 2015-25’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2015, 95/100.
2013 - ‘The change of generation still needs time to bed in at this top Stellenbosch producer, but you can be sure that it will. For the time being, this is not quite as exciting as previous recent releases, yet is still a classy Cabernet, with classic blackcurrant and cedar wood notes and refreshing acidity. Drink: 2016-22’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 92/100.
2014 - ‘The Le Riches source fruit from Firgrove, Raithby and Jonkershoek to make this refined, fragrant, age worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Elegant yet well structured, with plenty of grip and tannin and layers of youthful dark berry fruit. A red that’s made to age gracefully. 2020-30’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 94/100.
2015 - ‘The Le Riches make some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in Stellenbosch, and this stellar 2015 is no exception. Still closed right now, as you’d expect from such a vintage, this has layers of mocha oak, some green herbs, bright acidity and a vigorous core of dark fruit. One for the cellar. 2020-30’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 94/100.
2016 - ‘More or less equal components from Firgrove, Jonkershoek and Raithby make up the blend of this superb Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. Fine, elegant and beautifully judged, this is typical of the Le Riche style, which is all about nuance and freshness rather than extraction and raw power. Balanced, mineral edged and deftly wooded. 2021-28’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 94/100.
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