Loading...
Scarlet Syrah 2022
W.O. SWARTLAND
100% Syrah
Alc: 12.5% | R.S: 1.9 g/l | T.A: 6.3g/l | Ph: 3.63
Compelling aromas of white pepper and red berries follow through to the pallet with soft berry and plum flavours set off with bright vibrant acidity and lush soft tannins. The finish is long-lasting and elegant. This is a very poised and sophisticated wine.
This wine drinks well in youth but will improve over time, gaining additional complexity for at least five years from vintage.
The grapes are from Kasteelsig vineyard, owned by Billy (Guillermo) Hughes, and are organically certified. The soil is iron rich red Glenrosa with some Oakleaf – shale-rich duplex soils, and the vineyards are not irrigated. This iron stone vineyard is also the source of one of the most famous Swartland single vineyard Syrah wines.
WINEMAKING
Fermented with natural yeast in 700l open fermenters. We left around 20% of the bunches whole the wine was punched down manually several times a day, and hand bucketed into our small press. Maturation took place in French Oak barrels for 16 months.
THE STORY OF THIS WINE
This wine is named for the courageous Scarlet, an African wild dog from the Save Conservancy in Zimbabwe who overcame being badly mauled by lions as a pup to live a happy life as an integral part of her pack. Her resilience and constant care for her packmates capture the essence of this remarkable species. The name was suggested by Jess Watermeyer, a young South African woman who has dedicated her life to conservation and community projects in the wilds of Southeastern Zimbabwe
