By KWV The Mentors
Orchestra 2018

Wine Details
Origin: Western Cape
Components: 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 6% Carmenere
Vineyards: 72% Stellenbosch, 22% Paarl, 6% Wellington
Yield: 6-8 tons/ha
Bottling Date: November 2019

Vintage Conditions
Ahead of this challenging vintage, winter brought enough cold to break dormancy, although drought conditions persisted. It was the third year in a row without groundwater recharge. The cool weather continued into spring and delayed bud break, which occurred without incident. Cooler nights and days with higher-than-long-term rainfall kept vine development on track. October and November saw higher rainfall but not enough to make up the deficit. Southeastern winds during flowering had various impacts. December and January were significantly warmer than in 2017. Harvest began five days later and was defined by small berries, low yields, and big concentration. Despite the rollercoaster ride, harvest's near-perfect timing produced great, elegant wines with full ripeness.

Winemaking
Grape bunches were hand-picked and sorted in the KWV The Mentors cellar, which ensured only the best of each variety went into the blend. After fermentation, the most promising wines were chosen to continue maturation in barrel. After 12 months, the finest were selected to mature for a further six months before blending. This wine is truly about selecting the best-of-the-best of each variety.

Maturation
The wine matured for 18 months in French oak barrels.

Wine Description
This modern, multi-layered Bordeaux-style blend shows aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, plums, and black pepper with nuances of pencil shavings and dried herbs. On the palate, the intense concentration is prompted by a firm tannin structure and layers of sweet fruit, with an excellent follow-through. As with a fine orchestra, this blend showcases the unique individual attributes of different varietals but together delivers complexity beyond the sum of the components.

Presentation
Serving Suggestion: Enjoy on its own or paired with braised lamb shoulder or filet mignon
Cellaring Potential: Open now or cellared for up to eight years

Wine Analysis
pH: 3.42
Total Acidity: 6.31 g/l
Residual Sugar: 2.95 g/l
[Information provided by Classic Wines]

KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2018
Rating: 94
Region: Western Cape
Drinking Window: 2022-30
The Carmenere that was such an outstanding limited release in 2017 has been integrated into Orchestra in 2018, as part of the blend of this Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot dominated red. Marrying fruit from mostly Stellenbosch with Paarl and Wellington, it's a seamless, textured, focused red with fine tannins, plum, cassis and blueberry fruit and subtle 70% new wood.

KWV, The Mentors Orchestra, [...], Western Cape, South Africa, 2018
Producer: KWV
Wine name: The Mentors Orchestra
Vintage: 2018
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Award: Silver
Score: 94
Color: Red
Style: Still - Dry (below 5 g/L residual sugar)
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol level: 14.5%
Bottle Size: 75cl
Tasting notes: A sumptuous, deep, glass-coating wine. Powerful stewed plum, cassis and spicy vanilla flavours with a long, fairly tannic blackcurrant pastille finish.

KMV WESTERN CAPE THE MENTORS ORCHESTRA 2018
Monday, January 3, 2022
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Vintage: 2018
Score: 91
Black fruit, dried herbs, black pepper, graphite and dark chocolate on the nose. Medium body and round tannins. Fresh and balanced. Drink or hold.

KWV, The Mentors Orchestra 2018 Western Cape
Producer: KWV
Cuvee: The Mentors Orchestra
Appellation: Western Cape
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 14.50%
Score: 16/20
When to drink: 2020 – 2024
Published on: 17 Dec 2020
Date tasted: 17 Nov 2020
Reviewer: Tamlyn Currin
33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 6% Carmenere. A wine that has just (on 14 November 2020) won 'Best Wine in South Africa' at the Veritas Awards. ‘We’re very excited – we haven’t stopped drinking a lot of wine since Saturday afternoon.’ 70% new oak. Blackcurrant jam and grilled cigar. Plenty of barbecue-smoked green bell pepper. The fruit is clarion-pure, the tannins are fluid. Faultless and flattering. (TC)