Black Elephant Vintners was founded by Kevin Swart, Raymond Ndlovu, and Jacques Wetnzel after all three left their previous jobs to found their own winery. The winery’s name is a translation of Kevin and Raymond’s last names and a nod to Jackques who is the vintner. Three Men in a Tub was one of their first wines, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Mourvèdre. The wine is smoky with black cherry, leather, blistered red bell peppers, boysenberry, and violet notes. Personally, I enjoy that the 2% Mourvèdre comes through in the wine’s rich dark-fruit profile. The label plays into the winery’s symbolism and eclectic style. Like the three friends who came together to form the winery, the grapes in this wine work really well together.
Black Elephant Vintners, Western Cape (South Africa) 2020
By Vince Simmon