Cavalli Estate’s Warlord Earns Prestigious 95-Point Rating from Tim Atkin

Last Updated: Sep 3, 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Cavalli Estate’s flagship Bordeaux blend, the Warlord, has been awarded an impressive 95-point rating from internationally renowned and acclaimed wine critic, Tim Atkin.

This marks a significant milestone in Cavalli Estate’s winemaking history, as earning a 95-point rating is a highly coveted achievement that positions the Cavalli Warlord among the most prestigious wines of our time.

This pinnacle recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication and expertise of the Cavalli Estate winemaking team. Through their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality, they have crafted a Bordeaux blend that has risen to the top, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest wines in the industry.

The Cavalli Warlord’s exceptional performance is particularly noteworthy given the fierce competition in the world of premium Bordeaux-style blends. To earn a 95-point rating from a respected critic like Tim Atkin is a true testament to the exceptional quality and character of this wine.

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Malbec and 21% Petit Verdot, the grapes were hand-harvested and aged in French Oak barriques for 22 months. On the nose, you’ll find fresh plum, black forest cake, and cedar spice, while the palate offers soft, well-rounded tannins that complement an elegant palate weight.

Grapes were hand-picked at optimal ripeness and afforded a lengthy period of skin contact post-fermentation. The Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in stainless steel tanks with 3-4 pumpovers a day. The Malbec and Petit Verdot were fermented in small open-top vessels with manual punch downs 3-5 times daily. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 22 months before bottling.

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The 2021 growing season started with a rather dry build-up, but without the previous year’s extremely cold winter or heavy rains. This allowed to evoke vine dormancy and resulted in proper development of the vines as they headed into the growing season.

“I tasted Warlord twice in South Africa, the second time blind against some much higher priced wines, and it performed like the thoroughbred it is named after. Combining Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec and 16% Petit Verdot, it has engaging aromas of coffee bean, tarragon and dill, stylish 35% new oak, fine-boned tannins and flavours of cassis, bramble and wet stones. 2025-29.”

As a token of our appreciation for your continued support, we’re offering our valued Club Members exclusive early access to purchase this outstanding wine before it becomes available to the general public in October. Make sure to secure your bottles early and enjoy this top-rated gem before anyone else!

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