Syrah

Perfect with rich veggie and robust beef dishes, garlic, olive oil, and crusty breads.

Growing up on my family’s sheep farm near Sutherland in the arid Karoo I spent hours exploring the veld with my canine companion. We enjoyed the simple pleasures of farm life and Nature has always been in my blood. With my passion for the outdoors combined with an affinity for Maths and Science I had my sights set on studying medicine and enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree at Stellenbosch University. It was here that the wine bug bit. After graduating from Stellenbosch University with a BSc and BSc Honours in Wine Biotechnology in 1998 I was appointed as Assistant Winemaker at Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch in 1999. Completing harvest tenures in Sancerre St Emilion and Beziers France I gained an appreciation for the balance and elegance of the wines of these regions. Following my time at Kleine Zalze I accepted a winemaker position at Graham Beck Wines in 2005. After a brief stint under the mentorship of Charles Hopkins then-Cellar Master at Franschhoek I found myself the sole winemaker in a world class cellar and living my dream. Drawing on my extensive training and rewarding career as a winemaker and marketer with invaluable experience locally and abroad I took a leap of faith and started my own label in 2016.

Syrah from 17 and 8 year-old vineyard in Firgrove planted on decomposed granite soils. An elegant cool climate Stellenbosch Syrah, to showcase vibrant fresh aromatics and perfume with a silky smooth and textured mouthfeel. Crafted to give the best expression of the terroir from which the grapes are sourced. The wine is complex and expressive. It shows excellent purity of fruit and elegance with great texture, complexity and structure, as well as having outstanding cellaring potential.

Matured in 1st to 3rd fill 300 li and 500 li French oak barrels for 14 months. 35 % 1st fill barrel, 35 % 2nd fill barrel and 30 % 3rd fill.

Fermented in open top barrels with 3 gentle punch downs per day.