The weathered landscape of South Africa is the result of millions of years of battering storms. Storms that stirred in the waters off of the ‘Cape of Good Hope.’ That name is recent as historically it was known as the ‘Cabo das Tormentas’ or ‘Cape of Storms.’ In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias made the first modern rounding of the cape. Hundreds of previous attempts were made but the rugged lands of South Africa were protected by the rough seas and punishing storms. This ‘Storm Point’ remains a fabled place to this day. The unruly landscape and intense growing season of the Swartland is the bedrock for this wine.
Syrah serves as the canvas for the wine with Cinsault providing bright red fruit flavors and Carignan painting the deeper colors. The grapes were hand harvested from early to mid-February and fermented partially whole cluster and partially de-stemmed. After 9 days on the skins and a gentle extraction via light pump overs, the wine was pressed to a mix of stainless and neutral oak where it aged for 10 months.
Raspberry, black cherry, and crushed herbes de Provence dominate the bouquet of this wine. The palate is lively, showcasing fresh, invigorating flavors of plum and orange zest. This vintage highlights bright, aromatic characters with smooth tannins and a refined finish.
Grapes: 50% Syrah – 40% Cinsault – 10% Carignan
