Syrah 2021

This Syrah comes from selected plots on the Porseleinberg (90%) and Goldmine (10%) properties, near Riebeek-Kasteel, in the Swartland appellation. The Porseleinberg vines are rooted in decomposed mica-schist bedrock, while Goldmine lies on the south-western slopes of the Kasteelberg, on brown shale and Table Mountain sandstone. The wine is made at the estate, in Franschhoek.

The grapes are harvested by hand into crates, then chilled before spontaneous fermentation in tulip-shaped concrete tanks. The bunches, partially destemmed, include 65% whole clusters; extraction is carried out through gentle rack-and-returns, two to three times a day. After maceration, the wine is basket-pressed and aged for up to 18 months in traditional 2,500-litre Austrian foudres and 600-litre demi-muids.

This wine reveals notes of plum, violet, blueberry, black fruits, black liquorice, aniseed, pepper, damp earth, blond tobacco, black cardamom, iron and tar. The palate, broad and complex, combines fleshy fruit with supple, velvety tannins. Vibrant acidity underlines its freshness, while the long, lightly smoky finish extends the spicy, savoury accents.

The first vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of the French Huguenots in the 1680s, with their viticultural skills and knowledge. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, its first vineyards having been planted in the 1690s. Today South Africa is one of the most important wine-producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With more than 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. Most wines are made using New World winemaking techniques, yet stylistically they often have more in common with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has attracted international attention and won acclaim for its great diversity of styles. The South African wine industry is spread across the lush, rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, an abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaux allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions enjoy a Mediterranean climate, strongly influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, a native cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut rarely found in any quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often brought together in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.