Last Updated: Sep 03, 2025

At Cavalli Estate, our wines are not just made — they are crafted as stories in a bottle, expressions of terroir, vision, and people. With the Warlord 2022, we are proud to share an extraordinary milestone: before its release, it has already been awarded 95 points by Winemag and crowned Best in Category in the prestigious Cape Bordeaux Red Blend Report 2025. This is a first for Cavalli, and a statement of intent.

For the first time, our celebrated winemaker Rianie Strydom has added Cabernet Franc and Merlot to the classic Warlord structure, making the 2022 vintage a true full Bordeaux blend.

“With Warlord 2022, I wanted to bring more harmony and completeness to the blend. The Cabernet Franc brings perfume, elegance, and freshness; the Merlot adds suppleness and depth. Together with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec, it creates a wine that is both powerful and graceful — a true Bordeaux expression, but with the unmistakable fingerprint of Cavalli.” – Rianie Strydom, Winemaker.

To be recognised with 95 points and Best in Category places Cavalli shoulder to shoulder with South Africa’s most revered Bordeaux producers — Delaire Botmaskop, Alto M.P.HS, Ernie Els Signature, and Tokara Director’s Reserve.

For Cavalli, a relatively young estate, to join this company is both humbling and inspiring. It affirms our belief that when vision, terroir, and craft align, excellence follows.

Warlord 2022 embodies everything Cavalli stands for:

• Terroir & Precision: Born of the Helderberg, where maritime breezes and granite soils produce wines of distinction.
• Craft & Innovation: A blend shaped by Rianie’s experience, daring to add new layers of elegance to a Cavalli classic.
• Sustainability & Pedigree: Crafted with integrity, rooted in our commitment to quality and the long view of South Africa’s fine wine journey.

Though not yet released, Warlord 2022 has already earned its place in Cavalli’s history — and, we believe, in the cellars of collectors and wine lovers who seek pedigree, age-worthiness, and excellence. It is a wine that doesn’t just compete with the best — it belongs with them.

Stay close — Warlord 2022 is coming. A new benchmark for Cavalli. A new story in South Africa’s Bordeaux legacy.