2019 Porseleinberg, Swartland, South Africa
Critics reviews
A brilliant and shining star, the 2019 Syrah bursts with savoury herbs, red florals and spiced red fruit tones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows an umami character with impressive mineral tension, succulent acidity and balanced tannins before concluding with a long, seductive and spicy finish. The wine continues to reveal its secrets with the persistent lingering aftertaste. 24,000 bottles were made from 100% whole-cluster Syrah.
Drink 2022 - 2035
Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (December 2022)
Vibrant, peppery nose of blackcurrants, black pepper, five spice, grilled herbs, bay leaves and chili chocolate. It’s medium-to-full-bodied with bright acidity and tight-grained tannins. Excellent flavour concentration here with a long, savoury and juicy finish. 100% Syrah. Sustainable.
Drink now or hold
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (January 2022)
About this WINE
Porseleinberg
Swartland
After Stellenbosch, the west coast district of Swartland (25 miles due north of Cape Town, between the towns of Malmesbury and Piketberg) now ranks as the Cape's most exciting wine-producing district.
Settled initially by nomadic Khoikhoi from Namibia, the Dutch brought trade and vines to the region in the 17th century. Viticulture was developed only more recently.This contrasts with an ancient geology which has brought a mix of shale, arenite sandstone and granite soils air-conditioned by the Atlantic Ocean nearby.
Chenin Blanc and Shiraz seem to do best, as exemplified by the wines of Eben Sadie and Mullineux.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
A brilliant and shining star, the 2019 Syrah bursts with savoury herbs, red florals and spiced red fruit tones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows an umami character with impressive mineral tension, succulent acidity and balanced tannins before concluding with a long, seductive and spicy finish. The wine continues to reveal its secrets with the persistent lingering aftertaste. 24,000 bottles were made from 100% whole-cluster Syrah.
Drink 2022 - 2035
Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (December 2022)
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