2014 Reyneke Wines Capstone Cabernet Blend Stellenbosch South Africa 750 ml

The 2014 Reyneke Capstone Cabernet is a shot across the proverbial bow of Bordeaux’s Left Bank. At close to six years old, this perfectly cellared library vintage easily goes toe to toe with a Saint-Estèphe or Haut-Médoc of the same age…but costs half as much. 

We have been fans of Reyneke for years: Among sommeliers and anyone who’s ever visited the Western Cape, it’s become a benchmark for the wines of South Africa in general, and Stellenbosch in particular. 

The exchange rates in South Africa remain overwhelmingly in our favor, which means you win: Today, this South African First Growth can be yours at a fantastic bargain price, a no-brainer for a Wine Access exclusive that’s garnered praise from critics the world over. 

Jancis Robinson has said that she’s “impressed by the entire Reyneke range.” Wine Enthusiast has described it as “unforgettable.” Wine Advocate’s Neal Martin called it “One of Stellenbosch’s finest estates,” adding that the wines “fulfill both in a sensory and intellectual way.” Master of Wine Tim Atkin ranked Reyneke “First Growth” not once, but twice in his reviews of the South African wine industry. 

From the Napa Valley equivalent of South Africa, the 2014 Capstone balances everything we love about Bordeaux—spicy nuance, elusive minerality, and elegance—with the concentration, ripeness, and structure of Napa Cabernets. In the glass, that translates to a deep red with gorgeous aromas of cassis, violet, and tobacco that set the stage for dried black fruit and herbs with mineral and umami to spare. Reyneke challenges the entire notion that great wine and great value are mutually exclusive. 

Reyneke grew this sensuous red on a 90-acre farm whose Dutch name “Uitzicht,” translates as “The View.” From their perch, both Stellenbosch and False Bay can be seen from Reyneke's sweeping land, and the mountains towering over it all lend a sense of grandeur that the Western Cape seems to specialize in. 

As for the wine itself, it’s been a hit since it was first released. Wine Spectator called this blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Merlot “alluring, with flavors of crushed plum and boysenberry preserves lined with singed vanilla, alder and black tea notes.” Wine Advocate praised it as “clean and pure.” 

In the case of founder Johan Reyneke’s work, “clean” is an understatement. The biodynamic farm eschews pesticides and chemicals of all kinds, instead policing the rows with an army of ducks and “companion plants,” which divert traditional pests away from the grapevines. Since 1988, Johan has led the charge for a return to natural farming in South Africa, becoming the first certified biodynamic vineyard in the country. 

In the cellar, it all adds up: Johan and his team hand-sort the berries meticulously, then ferment the wine in neutral concrete before an extended aging period in just 30% new oak, which results in an impeccably balanced red blend that showcases fresh flavors in tandem with a firm structure, and shows irresistible notes of cocoa, clove, and granite minerality.   

Right now, the 2014 Capstone is coming into its own, after resting in the Reyneke cellars undisturbed for nearly six vintages. While this wine promises a glorious evolution in the cellar, we don’t expect it to last here…