Named for the ‘fusing’ together of Bordeaux’s five famous varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec). Born of vineyards that are high in gravel content and benefit from prolonged exposure to the afternoon sun – conditions, in other words, that favour the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon – it is this intensely hued, robust flavoured varietal that, at 50 to 60%, forms the backbone of the formidable final blend. The 2017 vintage is made from 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot grape varietals. Aged in a climatised barrel room (16 degrees Celsius at 80% humidity) for 12 months in 50% new and 50% second-fill, 225-litre oak barrels. Ninety percent French oak and the Malbec was aged in American oak. Bottled at 14.79%. (Bottle size 1.5 litre)

Nose: Intense aromas of juicy red cherries and ripe blueberries. It further compels with supporting nuances of perfume, creamy notes of cassis and an understated, underlining chalky minerality.

Palate: The wine is beautifully textured, with detailed fruit flavours of creamy blackberries.

Finish: Dense, yet vibrant the wine lingers with soft, fine grain tannins inviting one’s senses for the next sip.

De Toren proprietors Emil and Sonette den Dulk left Johannesburg in 1991 to establish their vineyards in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch. Situated on southern facing slopes overlooking False Bay, De Toren enjoys the cooling effect of constant ocean breezes. Taking a holistic approach to keeping vineyard soils healthy and balanced viticulturist Ernest Manuel employs sustainable farming practices throughout the property. Infrared Aerial Imaging is used extensively in order to monitor ripeness in various vineyard blocks and determine optimal picking times although actual harvesting and production are done almost entirely by hand. The winery is operated on gravity flow principles; a 4,000-litre pressure tank in an elevator shaft (the Tower from which the winery takes its name) is cleverly used to exploit gravity in transporting wine between tanks and barrels without the use of mechanical pumps. As a result of De Toren’s innovative minimal intervention production methods their wines were among the first South African bottlings to qualify for IP (Integrated Production) certification by the Wine and Spirit Board. The Den Dulks and winemaker Albie Koch seem to have found the key to success with their simple winemaking philosophy: gentle handling, no pumps and minimum manipulation. Armed with this winning formula the boutique farm has quickly risen to the ranks of South Africa’s winemaking elite with their duo of dazzling stylish and complex five-varietal Bordeaux blends: the flagship Fusion V (which debuted in the 1999 vintage and has been hailed by Wine Spectator as a consistently polished outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend) and the Merlot-based Z introduced with the 2004 vintage.

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