Fleur du Cap’s signature Laszlo blend has excelled with two consecutive vintages breaking the venerable 90 point barrier at the inaugural RisCura Red Hot Wine Awards for Bordeaux-style reds.

The awards presented in association with Winemag.co.za, rated the 2008 and 2009 Laszlo vintages 90 and 91/100 respectively, two of only 11 wines to attain 90 points or more out of 85 entries.

Fleur du Cap Laszlo is crafted as a tribute to Dr Julius Laszlo, the visionary Cellarmaster at Die Bergkelder who almost single-handedly catapulted South African winemaking into the international league in the 1980s. Made only in exceptional vintages from the finest barrels of noble varieties that Dr Laszlo helped to establish in the Cape winelands, these formidable special release blends epitomise the Fleur du Cap philosophy of meticulous selection and regional excellence.

Netting the competition’s second highest score of 91 points, the 2009 Laszlo vintage is a rich, powerful blend of all five classic Bordeaux red grape varieties, Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Petit Verdot (15%), Malbec (12%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). The wine has an intense deep plum colour and a bouquet of rich, complex layers of cherries, plums and mixed berries with spicy notes imparted during maturation for 28 months in new French oak barrels. These alluring flavours follow through onto the palate with integrated oak nuances and firm tannins that bode well for excellent ageing.

With a score of 90, Laszlo 2008 is an equally robust blend of four Bordeaux varieties, Merlot (35%), Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), Petit Verdot (22%) and Malbec (11%). It boasts an intense plum colour and a bouquet of opulent and intricate layers of black cherries, plums and blackberries with subtle nuances of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and marzipan that follow through onto the palate. A firm tannic backbone ensures great ageing potential with further maturation.

Wine enthusiasts can taste these top tier Bordeaux-style reds at public tastings in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 19 August at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel and in Cape Town on Wednesday, 26 August at the Radisson Blu near the V&A Waterfront. Tickets are R225 per person and can be purchased online at www.winemag.co.za.

Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2008 is available at R335 per bottle at the Fleur du Cap cellar door at Die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch and online at www.vinoteque.co.za. The 2009 vintage will be released later.