SIMONSIG FLAGSHIP RED, NOW BIGGER AND BOLDERTiara 2006 magnum available with stylish gift box The ‘bold and the beautiful’ takes on a whole new meaning at
Simonsig Estate, with the debut of the The Tiara 2006 1.5
litre, which comes with a sophisticated gift box, exudes grandeur not only because
of the wine’s award-winning pedigree but in size as well, with this classic blend
of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) and Merlot (32%) now available for the first time in
a magnum. A refined expression of excellence, Tiara was aptly given
its regal name by the beloved family patriarch and founder of the estate, Frans
Malan. This wine, shaped by grapes of optimal ripeness and reflecting the best
quality of the vintage, was first bottled in 1990. “Upon release in 1992, our maiden Tiara was an instant hit being
chosen by the Wine-of-the-Month Club as the Wine of the Year. The wine has
since established itself in the global vineyard with an impressive track record
that speaks for itself,” shares Simonsig winemaker Tiara’s plethora of
prestigious local and international accolades attained over the last decade include
the No.1 spot at the 2005 Best Bordeaux Blends Challenge by VINOmania – the
Russian alter ego of the British Wine Magazine and a 90-point score in Wine
Enthusiast (USA) in 2006. On home turf the wine has excelled as a gold
medallist at the 2003 Michelangelo International Wine Awards, won gold and
double gold at the 2004 Veritas Awards and clinched gold at the South African
2007 Calyon Trophy Bordeaux Blend Challenge.
The 2006 vintage secured 4 ½ stars in the 2010 Platter Guide. “In 2006, Merlot produced
stunning wines, perhaps the best ever due to soft tannins and
powerful fruit, whilst
Cabernet was the stand out red variety of our harvest and this perhaps explains
why the Tiara 2006 contains no Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, unlike the
other vintages,” says Johan. The myriad of accolades
achieved for this ultra-premium red has seen a significant increase in demand
with all the 750 ml bottles of the 2006 Tiara completely sold out, making the magnum edition an even bigger ‘must-have’ for
any serious wine lover’s collection. Nothing less is expected from
the latest 2007 vintage which has just been released in the regular 750ml
size. Fit for a royal princess, Simonsig Tiara 2007 expresses the
perfect marriage of the four varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot
(29%), Cabernet Franc (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) – in a harmonious, yet complex
blend with serious concentration and great potential to age. “I love the
challenge of working with different grape varieties as they allow enormous
scope for the winemaker to be creative with his blending skills. During the
2007 vintage, outstanding blending components were created by the
perfectly ripened Merlot and younger Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards,” adds Johan. The elegance
and finesse of the Merlot uplifts the cedar, cigar box undertone of the Cabernet
Sauvignon. The Petit Verdot adds colour and tightens the tannins while the perfumed fruit
is enhanced by the gentle fragrance of the Cabernet Franc. Simonsig Tiara 2007 lures with a dark Persian carpet red hue whilst an explosion
of vibrant fruit flavours of blackcurrants, cassis and violets and a touch of
pencil shavings capture the intensity of the wine. Sweet vanilla and dark
chocolate aromas reveal the spicy French oak contribution from the19 months the
wine spent in the barrel. This wine has the body and structure to improve with Simonsig Tiara retails from R150 for a 750ml bottle or R320 for the 1.5
litre magnum with stylish gift box, at selected fine wine outlets countrywide.
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