The Rust en Vrede Estate Red 2022 continues the estate’s legacy of crafting structured, site-driven Bordeaux-style blends from estate-grown fruit in Stellenbosch. The 2022 vintage leans slightly more expressive in its youth, while still carrying the hallmark structure and longevity Rust en Vrede is known for.
The nose is dense yet precise, showing layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, and dark chocolate, complemented by notes of sandalwood, cedar, and warm baking spice. On the palate, the wine opens with a touch of ripe fruit before settling into a more structured, savory profile, where flavors of blackberry compote, spice, and toasted oak come through. The tannins are fine-grained yet grippy, balanced by fresh acidity, leading to a long, persistent finish with both power and polish.
This is a serious, food-driven red that pairs naturally with grilled meats, lamb, game, and richly flavored dishes.
The nose is dense yet precise, showing layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, and dark chocolate, complemented by notes of sandalwood, cedar, and warm baking spice. On the palate, the wine opens with a touch of ripe fruit before settling into a more structured, savory profile, where flavors of blackberry compote, spice, and toasted oak come through. The tannins are fine-grained yet grippy, balanced by fresh acidity, leading to a long, persistent finish with both power and polish.
This is a serious, food-driven red that pairs naturally with grilled meats, lamb, game, and richly flavored dishes.
The wine is crafted exclusively from estate-grown grapes, which are hand-harvested and carefully sorted. Each parcel and clone is vinified separately to preserve site expression. Following destemming and crushing, the grapes are fermented in open-top tanks, with a total maceration period of around 21 days, including approximately 7 days of fermentation. Extraction is managed through a combination of pump-overs and manual punch-downs (2–4 times daily).
The wine is then matured for approximately 22 months in 300L French oak barrels, with a balanced oak regime of 20% new, 20% second fill, 20% third fill, and 40% fourth fill, allowing for structure and complexity while maintaining fruit integrity.
Winemaker: Coenie Snyman
The wine is then matured for approximately 22 months in 300L French oak barrels, with a balanced oak regime of 20% new, 20% second fill, 20% third fill, and 40% fourth fill, allowing for structure and complexity while maintaining fruit integrity.
Winemaker: Coenie Snyman
For 315 years Rust en Vrede has stood peacefully among the vineyards of Stellenbosch. The company and the estate are now headed up by Jean Engelbrecht and their family has specialized in producing only red wine with the focus on Shiraz, Cabernet, and Merlot. The underground cellar of the estate was the first of its kind for a privately owned South African winery. Designed by renowned architect Mr. Gawie Fagan, the perfectly temperature-controlled environment is of invaluable benefit to the production and bottle maturation of unique wines.
Rust en Vrede is a remarkable example of exquisite landscaping. At home and abroad, this unassuming Stellenbosch Estate has made a name for itself far beyond its modest, but infinitely charming, 55 hectares.
Rust en Vrede is a remarkable example of exquisite landscaping. At home and abroad, this unassuming Stellenbosch Estate has made a name for itself far beyond its modest, but infinitely charming, 55 hectares.
