Babylonstoren is one of the Cape Winelands’ most extraordinary and celebrated estates — a historic farm in the Simonsberg foothills of Paarl whose origins stretch back to 1692, and whose combination of breathtaking natural beauty, meticulous farming, and genuine winemaking ambition has made it one of South Africa’s most iconic and sought-after wine destinations. The estate takes its name from the great rocky outcrop that rises above the vineyards — Babylonstoren, the Tower of Babel — and it is from that same spirit of many voices speaking together that the Babel wine takes its name and its philosophy. Babel is a blend of nine different grape varieties — Shiraz, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, Mourvèdre, Merlot, Marselan, Malbec, Grenache, and Cabernet Franc — each one contributing its own distinct character and voice to a wine that is greater, more complex, and more completely itself than any single variety could ever be alone. It is a wine that celebrates diversity and the extraordinary richness of the Cape Winelands’ viticultural heritage, and that speaks of a winemaking team confident enough to let nine varieties find their own harmony rather than imposing a single, dominant narrative. The 2023 is a wine of real depth and charm: pencil shavings and sweet tobacco on the nose, with mulberry, cherries, and dark chocolate that together create a bouquet of real complexity and appeal. On the palate it is a beautifully balanced fusion of dark red berry and chocolate flavours, with a soft, generous mouthfeel and a juicy, lingering finish that speaks of both the quality of the fruit and the skill of the blending. At £22.49, it is Babylonstoren at their most generous and completely themselves.