Description
Few South African Shiraz wines are produced with the extraordinary attention to detail behind De Toren The Black Lion 2023. Drawing on exceptional vineyard sites in Swartland and Stellenbosch, this limited-production wine brings together the intensity of ancient granite soils with the elegance and freshness of cooler, maritime-influenced vineyards. Named in tribute to the extinct Cape lion, The Black Lion is a bold expression of Shiraz and one of De Toren's most ambitious wines.
The 2023 opens with generous aromas of mulberry, blackberry, and dark cherry, layered with cranberry, nutmeg, and subtle floral notes. The palate is concentrated and richly textured, offering ripe black fruit, anise, sweet tobacco, and finely integrated oak spice. Despite its considerable depth, the wine retains a sense of balance, with polished tannins and a velvety texture carrying through to a long, complex finish.
Made in exceptionally small quantities, with each bottle individually numbered, The Black Lion is a serious addition to the cellar. Its combination of concentration, structure, and elegance makes it particularly well suited to extended aging, although it can also be enjoyed younger with careful decanting. Pair with grilled ribeye, slow-braised lamb shank, venison, or richly flavored beef dishes.
The 2023 opens with generous aromas of mulberry, blackberry, and dark cherry, layered with cranberry, nutmeg, and subtle floral notes. The palate is concentrated and richly textured, offering ripe black fruit, anise, sweet tobacco, and finely integrated oak spice. Despite its considerable depth, the wine retains a sense of balance, with polished tannins and a velvety texture carrying through to a long, complex finish.
Made in exceptionally small quantities, with each bottle individually numbered, The Black Lion is a serious addition to the cellar. Its combination of concentration, structure, and elegance makes it particularly well suited to extended aging, although it can also be enjoyed younger with careful decanting. Pair with grilled ribeye, slow-braised lamb shank, venison, or richly flavored beef dishes.
* Prior vintage described.
In the cellar
The Black Lion is the result of De Toren's meticulous approach to vineyard selection and winemaking, extending beyond its Stellenbosch estate to carefully chosen Shiraz vineyards in the Swartland.
The contrasting growing environments are fundamental to the wine's character. Swartland's ancient granite soils and warmer, drier conditions contribute concentration and structure, while Stellenbosch's Helderberg vineyards introduce freshness, aromatic complexity, and refinement.
Throughout the growing season, the selected vines receive individual attention, with careful canopy management and yield control designed to concentrate the vine's energy into a small number of high-quality bunches. Grapes are harvested by hand and subjected to rigorous sorting before fermentation.
De Toren's approach to The Black Lion includes fermentation in French oak, followed by extended barrel maturation. The 2023 spent approximately 18 months in French oak, allowing its concentrated fruit, firm tannins, and spice-driven complexity to develop into a cohesive, beautifully structured wine.
The final release is bottled in exceptionally limited quantities, with individually numbered bottles presented in De Toren's distinctive collector's packaging.
Winemaker: Martin Fourie
Cellar Master: Charles Williams
The contrasting growing environments are fundamental to the wine's character. Swartland's ancient granite soils and warmer, drier conditions contribute concentration and structure, while Stellenbosch's Helderberg vineyards introduce freshness, aromatic complexity, and refinement.
Throughout the growing season, the selected vines receive individual attention, with careful canopy management and yield control designed to concentrate the vine's energy into a small number of high-quality bunches. Grapes are harvested by hand and subjected to rigorous sorting before fermentation.
De Toren's approach to The Black Lion includes fermentation in French oak, followed by extended barrel maturation. The 2023 spent approximately 18 months in French oak, allowing its concentrated fruit, firm tannins, and spice-driven complexity to develop into a cohesive, beautifully structured wine.
The final release is bottled in exceptionally limited quantities, with individually numbered bottles presented in De Toren's distinctive collector's packaging.
Winemaker: Martin Fourie
Cellar Master: Charles Williams
About the Winery
Located in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch, De Toren Private Cellar has established an international reputation for precision winemaking and its uncompromising approach to quality.
The estate is best known for its Bordeaux-style blends, particularly Fusion V and Edition Z, but The Black Lion represents a deliberate departure from that tradition. Rather than focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and its Bordeaux counterparts, De Toren turned its attention to Shiraz, selecting exceptional vineyard sites across different South African wine regions to create a wine of unusual depth and character.
The Black Lion takes its name from the Cape lion, a now-extinct subspecies once found in South Africa. With its distinctive dark mane, the animal became a symbol of strength and individuality, qualities reflected in the wine's powerful yet refined character.
Produced in extremely small quantities and presented in distinctive collector's packaging, The Black Lion stands alongside Book XVII as one of De Toren's most exclusive releases.
The estate is best known for its Bordeaux-style blends, particularly Fusion V and Edition Z, but The Black Lion represents a deliberate departure from that tradition. Rather than focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and its Bordeaux counterparts, De Toren turned its attention to Shiraz, selecting exceptional vineyard sites across different South African wine regions to create a wine of unusual depth and character.
The Black Lion takes its name from the Cape lion, a now-extinct subspecies once found in South Africa. With its distinctive dark mane, the animal became a symbol of strength and individuality, qualities reflected in the wine's powerful yet refined character.
Produced in extremely small quantities and presented in distinctive collector's packaging, The Black Lion stands alongside Book XVII as one of De Toren's most exclusive releases.
