Waterford Estate The Jem 2014 (Double Magnum)

There was no Jem in 2013, but Waterford's flagship blend was back with a flourish in 2014. One of the most defining elements in red wine is the quality of the tannins, and we haven’t tasted any finer than those in Waterford’s The Jem 2014. There is no better flagship Stellenbosch blend to lead SA’s luxury wine market. The tannins and precision make your heart skip a beat. Decades of experience at Delheim and Rust en Vrede led Kevin Arnold to the prime Waterford Estate on the slopes of the Helderberg. Having researched which varieties might perform best on the property, Kevin planted a basket of Mediterranean varieties with the vision of creating an ‘icon blend’.

The 2014 vintage consisting of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Shiraz, 14% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Mourvedre, 3% Sangiovese and 2% Barbera, maturation lasting 19 months in 225-litre French oak barrels, 32% new (alcohol: 14.6%). 

The nose shows top notes of floral perfume and leafiness before red and black fruit plus toasty oak and some spice while the palate is full bodied yet balanced – dense fruit and firm tannins, the finish super-dry. It’s as unshowy and carefully crafted as ever and deserves a place in the more well-heeled collector’s cellar.