Taaibosch, Crescendo 2019

Type: Red
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Where to Buy + How Much: Specialty wine shops and online retailers. Usually around $45 to $60.

Taaibosch Crescendo comes from Stellenbosch (South Africa), an area known for structured reds with real aging potential. This 2019 sits firmly in that camp. It is layered and serious, but not showy. The goal here is balance and longevity rather than flash.

Aroma: What am I smelling and why?

The nose opens with dark fruit like blackcurrant and plum, followed by a savory edge that feels more grown-up than fruity. Think dried herbs, cedar, and a faint graphite note. There is also a touch of vanilla and spice from oak aging, but it stays in the background. These aromas come from the Bordeaux-style blend and time spent maturing, not from sweetness or excess ripeness.

Palate: What am I tasting and why?

On the palate, this wine is firm and structured. Blackcurrant and blackberry lead, with noticeable amounts of tobacco and cocoa underneath. The tannins are present and very grippy, giving the wine shape and tension, and the acidity keeps everything feeling focused. This is not plush or soft. It feels deliberate, built to unfold slowly as you drink it and even more so if you cellar it.

Preference: Who is this wine not for?

If you prefer soft, easy reds that are ready to drink without much thought, this may feel too serious and beginner wine adventurers might want to steer clear. Drinkers who dislike noticeable tannin or want immediate fruit-forward sweetness might find it a bit stern. This is not a casual glass while cooking dinner.

Enjoy: How and with what?

Serve it around 60 to 65°F and consider decanting it for an hour to let it open up. It pairs best with rich, savory foods like grilled steak, lamb, or slow-cooked beef dishes. It also works well with aged cheeses. This is a wine for sitting down, slowing down, and letting the evening stretch out a bit, because the wine is in no rush at all.