91+pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Beginning with bold, expressive black fruit aromas in the glass, the 2017 Z offers juicy, blackberry essence with a dusty frame that is an instant success. Medium to full-bodied, the wine shows a balanced structure, with hints of reduction across the mid-palate that will allow this wine to age well past its 10th birthday. Concluding with a long-lingering and juicy finish, De Toren was absolutely able to capitalize on this fantastic vintage. Bravo!  Rating: 91

90pts Wine Spectator

This shows lots of fruit, with red and black currant, cocoa and damson plum notes, all backed by ripe but firm tannins. It is balanced and shows good depth, but this is for the fans of the riper style. Drink now through 2027.

Winemaker Notes

This soft, approachable ruby-hued beauty is a true testament to vines lovingly reared and winemaking raised to an art form. A Right Bank-style Bordeaux blend, De Toren Z comprises a symphonic blend of five Bordeaux varietals. You’ll find it tantalizingly soft on the tongue, with a hint of aniseed, liquorice, raspberry and cranberries lending a fresh acidity to its polished finish… plus, of course, all the finesse that makes Bordeaux-style wines so prized among the world’s most enthusiastic wine lovers.

This wine is a very versatile food pairing wine due to its great acidity and weight. It works exceptionally well with very fine spicy foods. Its aromas of mulberries and blueberries perfectly complements rich fish, lamb, duck, beef and poultry.

Blend: 47% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot