Rustenberg, RM Nicholson, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016

In 2016, Rustenberg lost 5ha of vineyard to fires on Simonsberg mountain. But out of the devastation came a delicious vintage of RM Nicholson, benefitting from the reduced yields and thus increased concentration and opulence. A blend of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet, it has a stalky hedgerow fruit aroma, minty-fresh with inky, violet-tinged black and blue fruit flavours. It has fine tannins, lip-smacking acidity and an oak-dominated finish of chocolate, black pepper, cream and liquorice.