Released after the softer 2016, we are truly excited about the 2015 Keet First Verse after having tasted it again yesterday. The winemaker who took Cordoba to mythical status, Christopher Keet, flies under the radar but continues to specialise in Cabernet Franc-led Bordeaux blends.

There is little doubt that the 2015 First Verse is his finest yet. With 29% Cabernet Franc and 24% Merlot, the plush, yet elegant style is a dead ringer for fine Saint-Émilion on the nose. Opening over time to deep florals, fine tobacco and ripe cherry, the core is savoury and mineral with uber-fine and lacy tannins – dramatic, profound and drop-dead gorgeous.

Having produced 16% annual returns for the 2009 and 2010 on the CFRW and Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions, the 2015 is not only a stellar, long-ageing SA red but also a great investment. This is one of the last 2015s to be released, see the list of what’s available here.

Keet, First Verse 2015
Chris Keet isn't well known outside South Africa – he's a modest, quietly spoken soul – but he's one of the Cape's finest oenologists, first at Cordoba and now at his own winery. Produced in what he calls a ‘humdinger vintage’, this is the best release yet. Sourced from eight sites across Stellenbosch, it's a seamless blend of the five Bordeaux varieties: classic, refined, nuanced and refreshing with silky tannins and near-perfect balance. Who's your daddy! Drink 2021-35. – Tim Atkin MW, 97/100