Taaibosch Estate’s 2019 Cuvée Crescendo is an elegant red blend from Stellenbosch, South Africa’s foremost wine region. Crafted predominantly from classic Bordeaux varietals—often Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon—this wine reflects both meticulous vineyard management and refined cellar work. The 2019 vintage enjoyed favourable ripening conditions, allowing full expression of dark fruit, precise tannins, and a lifted aromatic profile. The vinification process at Taaibosch emphasises gentle extraction and careful maturation, typically in French oak, to reveal both purity and complexity. Cuvée Crescendo represents the estate’s ambition to create an age-worthy wine that captures the essence of its terroir.
Stellenbosch, nestled within the Coastal Region of the Western Cape, boasts a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean provides beneficial maritime influences, cooling breezes, and morning mists that moderate temperatures and slow the ripening process. The soils are a patchwork of decomposed granite, sandstone, and clay, lending structure, minerality, and elegance to the wines. With a long-standing viticultural history dating back over 300 years, Stellenbosch is synonymous with South Africa’s top-quality reds, particularly those styled on Bordeaux blends.
This sophisticated red is made for food. Its supple structure and generous dark fruit pair beautifully with roasted lamb, beef fillet, or classic game dishes such as springbok or venison. A traditional South African bobotie, with its sweet-savoury profile, offers an intriguing local match. Alternatively, dishes featuring earthy root vegetables, mushroom risotto, or hard cheeses such as mature cheddar further accentuate the wine’s complexity.
For the best tasting experience, decant the Cuvée Crescendo for at least an hour and serve it at 16-18°C. This temperature brings out the vibrant fruit, reveals the wine’s aromatic intricacies, and ensures the tannins are supple and integrated. If cellaring, this 2019 vintage will continue to evolve gracefully over the next decade, rewarding patience with even greater depth and nuance.
