South Africa · Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

M&S Freedom Ridge Stellenbosch 2023

Leon Esterhuizen for M&S

RedCabernet SauvignonMerlotMalbec

Current bottles: 1
Location: KX
Alcohol: 13.5%
Drinking window: Now–2029

Tasting history

1 entry

M&S Freedom Ridge Stellenbosch 2023

Good · Mid

Purchased 7 Oct 2026

Full-bodied, dry, rich and oaked; blackberry, roasted coffee and herbs are the retailer's core notes. Historical IWSC notes for the 2022 add dried herbs, plum, graphite, firm tannins and a balanced finish. Personal tasting of the 2023 not yet recorded.

Promising match for the preference for savoury, structured reds with noticeable oak: full-bodied, French-oaked and dark-fruited. Untried personally, so this is a profile-fit assessment rather than a personal verdict.

Wine notes

Technical: The physical 2023 front label is authoritative for the blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. No percentages are printed on the supplied photo. Current M&S 2024 data gives 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 23% Malbec, but those percentages are NOT copied onto the 2023. Ocado currently describes Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc, which conflicts with the physical 2023 bottle; the bottle wins. M&S/Ocado describe French-oak ageing and sustainable Stellenbosch hillside fruit near False Bay. 13.5% ABV is from the current retailer SKU; exact 2023 back-label ABV was not visible in the supplied photo. Screwcap is supported by the same-wine 2022 IWSC packaging record.
Food pairing: Roasted lamb, beef, steak, grilled vegetables, charcuterie, rich pasta and mushroom dishes.
Closure: Screwcap
Quality & critic context: No exact 2023 major-critic score verified. Historical same-wine context: M&S Freedom Ridge 2022 won IWSC Silver in 2025. Vivino currently shows the 2023 as the best-rated vintage of this label at about 3.9, which is community rather than critic evidence.

Cellar & purchase history

In cellar · 1 bottle

£12.00

7 Oct 2026