The one thing I look forward to most in winter is cuddling up on the couch with series, some snacks and a glass or two of red wine. There is just something about the cold weather and red wine that takes winter to a whole new level of coziness.
A bottle of Babylonstoren’s Nebukadnesar 2017 arrived just as a cold spell was about to roll in this past weekend. I don’t know if it was a matter of luck or just perfect timing, but thank you to the wine Gods at Babylonstoren.
Why the name Nebukadnesar?
The name of this wine draws its origins from the tale of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, whose story weaves rich parallels with the history and development of the Babylonstoren farm. Nebuchadnezzar II – emperor and great restorer of holy places – is claimed to be responsible for the rebuilding of the Tower of Babel, the farm’s namesake. This biblical tower had been intended to reach heaven, but to prevent its completion, God caused a dispersion of languages. Herein lies the first link to Babylonstoren farm – in 1692, the Drakenstein Valley was a melting pot of languages and the indigenous Khoi and San dialects mixed with Dutch, German, Malay, Portuguese as well as the French spoken by the Huguenot winemakers.
It is the connection to the magical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, however, that Nebuchadnezzar II is best known for. Out of love for his queen, who longed for the green hills of her childhood, he used ingenious engineering to transform a flat, sun-baked floodplain into what is now one of the seven wonders of the classical world. Babylonstoren farm abounds with a diversity of flora and fauna, evoking a similar sort of magic: soils range from poor sand to rich loam and deep shale, and vineyards stretch from 170 metres above sea level all the way to 600 metres – unique terroir.
About the wine …
This flagship Bordeaux blend is a full bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Each of these wines was separately pressed and matured for 23 months in new French oak barrels. After the blend was made up, it was given a month in the tank to mingle. After a subsequent five months bottle maturation, the Nebukadnesar 2017 was released to the public.
The wine is a deep, inky ruby colour. That first whiff will intrigue you revealing scents of violets and thyme, blackcurrants and hints of cigar box. The complex layers of dark red fruits are balanced by tight well-honed tannins. The finish is a long compelling one that will make you want more and more.
This wine will pair perfectly with roast lamb, rare roast beef or fillet on the bone.
To buy, visit www.babylonstoren.com
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