Savage Red is Duncan Savage's flagship Syrah, made every vintage from a single site on the Langverwagt farm in Kuils River, on the Stellenbosch side of the Polkadraai Hills. It has been 100% Syrah since the 2017 vintage, and the 2024 comes from a warmer, earlier growing season that followed a wet, flood-affected start, producing a wine with more structure and firmer tannins than recent vintages. This is a serious, age-worthy Cape Syrah built for the cellar.

Tasting Notes: Deep, brooding and savoury on the nose, with dark plum, brambleberry and black cherry framed by sage, dried thyme and white pepper, and a distinct granitic, saline minerality running underneath. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firmly structured, with fine but muscular tannins, bright acidity and layers of black tea, liquorice and spice on a long, chiselled finish. Youthful and tightly wound on release, this is a Syrah that rewards patience.  Cellar for up to 10-15 years

Food Pairing: Unapologetically a wine for the table, its firm structure and savoury depth demanding dishes with weight, char, and intensity. Char‑grilled or spit‑roasted lamb, especially rubbed with rosemary and garlic, finds a natural partner in its earthy grip and spice. Game meats such as venison loin or springbok, dressed with a peppercorn or juniper jus, echo the wine’s wild, herbal edge. Slow‑braised oxtail or short rib, with their gelatinous richness, are lifted by its tannic backbone and savoury drive. For a plant‑based alternative, grilled mushrooms: particularly portobello or porcini. Mirror its smoky, umami character, while hard, aged cheeses like mature cheddar or an aged gouda provide a robust counterpoint to its intensity. Decanting for an hour before serving will open the wine’s aromatics and soften its edges, though patience in the cellar for three to five years will reward with greater harmony and polish.

‘Syrah from Kuils River and Polkadraai. 15% fermented as submerged cap. Matured in old 500-litre barrels for 13 months before a further 10 months in foudre. Gorgeous aromatics with pronounced fynbos preceding red berries, rose, cinnamon and pepper. Lovely fruit expression, bright acidity and powdery tannins, the finish long and dry but not at all astringent. Seamless, not too lean nor stemmy. So coherent from entry through mid-palate to finish. Alc: 13.7%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 97/100 | Classic 

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.7% | TA 5.1g/L | pH 3.67 | RS 2.3g/L