De Toren is the quintessential expression of excellence in the world of wine. Situated in the breathtaking Stellenbosch atop the Polkadraai hills. These hills benefit from cool ocean breezes, ancient soils and terroir ideally suited for cultivating world-class Bordeaux-style wines.
The sweeping panoramic vistas from Helderberg to False Bay, extending to Table Mountain are simply enchanting, evoking the charm of a picture-perfect postcard.
We had the pleasure of catching up with Winemaker Martin Fourie, who treated us to an enlightening Icon Tour and Tasting. He shared insights into De Toren’s unique winemaking approach, their vineyard expression of perfection to ensure that only the finest grapes are harvested. With optimal terroir and sustainable farming practices, these vineyards yield fruit that is rich in flavour and character, setting the foundation for the exceptional wines that De Toren is renowned for.
In the vineyard
Martin delved into their Left- and Right Bordeaux styled blends, particularly highlighting the Edition Z, dominated by Merlot. This wine benefits from a unique location, where cool ocean breezes extend the ripening period by up to about 14 days, resulting in luscious dark fruit notes. Conversely, the Fusion V, led by Cabernet Sauvignon, thrives in slightly elevated vineyards with sandy soils rich in granite, and ample exposure to warm afternoon sun.
De Toren’s winemaking philosophy revolves around a harmonious blend of soil types, rootstocks, grape varieties and barrels. They’ve carefully selected 25 diverse clones of the five Bordeaux noble varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, matched with 10 rootstocks, and planted across fifteen soil types. This intentional diversity enriches the wines with complexity and it’s like building blocks with different layers. Their philosophy is “The truth is in the vine”.
Especially noteworthy is their approach with Fusion V, where each row features 2 to 3 different grape varieties tailored to the changing soil composition, ranging from Petit Verdot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Malbec within a single row. This meticulous matching of varieties, clones and rootstocks to optimal soil types amplifies the vineyard’s complexity, resulting in truly exceptional wines.
The grapes are hand-harvested by a team of women during the cool early morning hours, with a strict limit of 2 to 3 hours per day. This ensures that only the best, unblemished berries are selected through successive rounds of hand-sorting before making their way into the cellar and eventually into the bottle.
In the cellar
Making use of aerial near-infrared photography with the use of a very cool app on their phones, the vineyards are carefully mapped to optimise the growth, harvesting and vinification process of each row, ensuring they reach their full potential.
De Toren, which means “The Tower” in Dutch, is the pioneering South African winery to implement a gravity-fed cellar system. This innovative method uses gravity to move wine through various production stages, ensuring a gentle approach that maintains the wine’s flavours and aromas. With a commitment to minimal intervention and maximum impact, De Toren aims to produce some of the world’s most opulent wines.
Their wines undergo ageing in barrels for approximately 12 to 14 months, with a blend of 95% French oak and 5% American oak sourced from around 8 different coopers. This careful selection of barrels enhances the expression of dark fruit flavours in the wines. Specifically for Malbec, they use American oak barrels with French oak heads. This combination is chosen to balance the oxygen exposure during ageing. American oak, with its lower oxygen permeability, is complemented by the French oak heads, which allow for controlled oxygenation. This meticulous approach takes their wines from average to outstanding, showcasing a heightened level of finesse and complexity.
After finalising the blend, they allocate a specific tank to it for ageing, typically ranging from 4 to 6 months before bottling. This process allows the various components such as the different wines, barrels and vineyards to blend and integrate, enhancing the complexity and depth of flavours. This meticulous approach elevates the wine to a higher level before it undergoes bottle ageing for 12 to 24 months prior to release.
Book XVII, Black Lion and Petronas are expertly crafted in a dedicated cellar within the cellar, showcasing South Africa’s ability to produce top-tier ultra-premium wines. These wines are meticulously selected from specific vineyards to ensure exceptional quality.
They undergo barrel fermentation using only the finest premium barrels, with gentle rolling instead of traditional punch downs. After fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for 45 to 60 days, enhancing its complexity and depth of flavour. Book XVII exclusively ages in 100% new French oak barrels, while Black Lion and Petronas are aged in around 80% new French oak barrels, adding to their unique characteristics and overall excellence.
Wine Tasting
De Toren Délicate
Intended to be served chilled, this light-style red blend represents a youthful and playful interpretation. It’s predominantly red-fruit driven, comprising 50% Malbec aged in stainless steel tanks, while the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon components are barrel-aged. Occasionally, Merlot is included, though it’s primarily reserved for the Edition Z. This elegant red blend harmoniously blends the seductiveness of reds with the refreshing drinkability of whites. Medium-bodied and exceptionally smooth, it delights with abundant juicy fruit flavours and velvety tannins, resulting in a refined finish.
De Toren Edition Z
De Toren Edition Z is a Right Bank-style Bordeaux blend, crafted from a blend of five Bordeaux varietals. This wine delights with a beautiful soft texture on the palate, accentuated by notes of aniseed, liquorice, raspberry and cranberries. Its fresh acidity adds vibrancy to a polished finish, creating a truly captivating experience.
De Toren Fusion V
Made from Bordeaux’s renowned ‘Noble Five’ varietals, the iconic De Toren Fusion V is a Left Bank-based blend known for its complexity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc driven, It entices with flavours of dark sour cherry, a touch of tobacco spiciness and hints of aniseed, presenting a stylish and sophisticated choice for discerning wine enthusiasts.
De Toren Book XVII
De Toren Book XVII is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 20% Malbec. Malbec, a consistent star in their wines, except for the Black Lion, stands out as their secret ingredient, thriving exceptionally well on the estate.
This wine reveals intense aromas of red cherry and raspberry, transitioning seamlessly into notes of blackberry and cassis with subtle hints of mulberry and sweet tobacco. The palate experiences a rich and dense texture, complemented by a fine, firm tannin structure and refreshing acidity that enhances its complexity. Layers of black cherries and black currants intertwine with a rich graphite minerality, accented by delicate notes of sweet spice like nutmeg and underlying vanilla.
De Toren Black Lion
Made exclusively from Shiraz grapes, this wine represents the epitome of Shiraz excellence. It exudes aromatic richness and robustness, characterised by bold tannins and an exceptional expression of dark fruits. The granite-rich soils of the Swartland region contribute to its aromatic depth, offering notes of perfumed floral violets and deliciously dark fruits. Combining the classic ironstone elements of the Stellenbosch region with earthy tobacco-leaf undertones, the wine achieves a robust profile with chalky tannins and a refined, well-balanced structure.
Tasting Lounge
Enjoy a wine tasting like no other from the comfort of the luxurious Tasting Lounge, or move to the terrace to admire the magnificent view. The Tasting Lounge and outdoor areas are designed to cater to walk-in guests as no prior booking is necessary. For true wine aficionados, booking a private wine tasting & cellar tour, hosted by one of our senior team members is a must.
Luxury Tasting
Be captured by their magnificent and unique story whilst tasting three of their premium red blends, including our famed De Toren Délicate, De Toren Z and De Toren Fusion V. Bookings are highly recommended. Book XVII & The Black Lion available for tasting at an additional cost.
Icon Toir & Tasting
A tour where you get insight into their unique winemaking philosophy and process, presented by one of their senior team members. A tasting of all 5 of the iconic De Toren wines follows, including De Toren Délicate, De Toren Z, De Toren Fusion V, Book XVII and The Black Lion. By appointment only.
Contact Details
Polkadraai Road, Stellenbosch
Tel: 0860 042 514
Whatsapp: 0860 042 514
Email: info@de-toren.com
Categories: De Toren Private Cellar
