Lozärn is based on the Doornbosch farm near Bonnievale and was named after Lucerne, the farm and town that meant so much to the Smuts family matriarch, Kay. Winemaker Salomé Buys-Vermeulen planted her Carménère block in 2014 and produced what is credited as South Africa’s first single-variety Carménère.

The grapes were harvested on 28 March 2022 in small crates and kept overnight in a cold room. They were processed and sorted the following day. The wine fermented on its skins for 13 days, then it was pressed and transferred to tank.  It was bottled on 13 February 2023 and matured in bottle for 7 months before release.

Tasting Notes: Lozärn Carménère 2022 opens with complex, layered aromas of herbaceous tea leaf, tomato leaf and red cherry. These flow onto a lingering palate where the fruit and the fresh, leafy character stay in step with each other. Feels like you might be drinking a cab franc. The finish carries a hint of cranberry tartness, which keeps the wine bright and moreish. It is a dry, savoury, red-fruited style of Carménère with the lifted freshness this rare grape is known for.

Food Pairing: The herbal, leafy side of this Carménère suits food built on herbs and tomato. Try it with roast chicken scented with thyme and rosemary, grilled lamb with mint, or a slow-roasted tomato and mushroom pasta. It also works well with charcuterie, pork sausages and ratatouille. The cranberry-like tartness on the finish cuts through richer dishes, so it handles a hearty beef stew or a firm aged cheese as comfortably as a simple weeknight braai.  This wine will also handle some spice, think peppered steak or peri peri chicken. 

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.5% | TA 6.3g/L | pH 3.62 | RS 4g/L