Wow! There are tastings, and then there are tastings! To be included in a very exclusive group to taste through Tokara's flagship wine, the Telos's 2015-2019 vintages is truly an incredible privilege and honour! And we were all reminded of the major impact which the drought had during 2017-2019 on the Cape, but also highlighted the resilience of vineyards well managed. To produce the quality of wine having gone through the stresses of minimal water is remarkable. TELOS is a Greek word meaning the ultimate object or aim. A great aspiration to have. The most prominent variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from a single vineyard on the Simonsberg. The decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone gravel where the Telos block is sourced from were formed through millennia of tectonic plate movement and have had a significant impact on the soil and of course then the vineyards and the wine. We were also treated to an incredible lunch at DUSK, paired with some of the other older Tokara wines, the 2012 Directors Reserve White, and the deliciously sticky Tokara Straw Wine Chenin Blanc 2025. DUSK owner Darren Badenhorst has managed to create a dine-dining space in mid-town Stellenbosch which really makes you feel tucked away in a plush dark cave, where you can really focus on the incredible food and wine. A great surprise was when the starter, the aged wagyu was served in what looked like dog bowls! Which they were – as DUSK is an active supporter of the Animal Welfare Society in Stellenbosch and so raised awareness for all of us present. A poignant moment indeed.