The 2025 vintage marks Lukas van Loggerenberg’s tenth under his own label. A decade shaped by enduring relationships with exceptional old vineyards and the families who have farmed them for generations. Following a cold winter and mild growing season, the harvest unfolded slowly and naturally, allowing each vineyard to be picked at its point of balance. The resulting wines are defined by purity, precision and composure, expressing both the character of the 2025 vintage and Lukas’s deepening understanding of these remarkable sites.

Graft comes from a single steep, south facing block on Karibib Farm in the Polkadraai Hills, farmed by Jozua Joubert at an elevation of around 290 metres. Karibib is widely regarded as one of the Cape's finest Syrah sites, and this bottling has become one of Lukas van Loggerenberg's most decorated wines, with recent vintages among the highest scored South African reds on the market. Production is limited each year, so allocation moves quickly.

The Syrah is grown on Karibib Farm, farmed by Jozua Joubert, on a steep, south facing slope of the Polkadraai Hills at around 290 metres above sea level. The site's granite rich soils and cooling exposure are behind the wine's structure and freshness.

The fruit was 100% whole bunch fermented and left to begin fermentation naturally, with one punch down performed daily. After pressing, malolactic fermentation took place in a combination of barrel (40% third fill, 10% new wood) and Italian concrete (50%), before the wine was blended after eleven months and bottled straight away. No enzymes or commercial yeast were used.

Tasting Notes: 100% whole bunch fermentation and eleven months in a mix of French barrel (40% third fill, 10% new wood) and Italian concrete build the structured, savoury style this site is known for. Expect the violet, lavender and cracked pepper aromatics that have become Graft's signature, layered over dark plum, black olive and blackberry fruit, with fine, grippy tannins and the granite driven freshness to age for a decade or more.

Food Pairing: Graft's structure, savoury spice and grippy tannins call for dishes with enough richness and fat to match its intensity, in the mould of a good northern Rhône Syrah. Grilled lamb chops or a rack of lamb: the char and fat of grilled lamb stand up to Graft's tannic grip, while the meat's natural gaminess echoes the wine's cracked pepper and olive notes. Venison loin or springbok: lean game calls for a wine with structure rather than sheer fruit weight. Graft's freshness and firm tannins keep the pairing balanced rather than heavy. Duck breast with a peppercorn jus: the wine's own pepper spice mirrors the sauce, while the duck's fat softens the tannins. Aged pecorino or a hard sheep's milk cheese: the wine's savoury, olive-driven profile pairs naturally with the salt and umami of a well-aged hard cheese. Char-grilled portobello mushrooms: for a plant-based option, the smoky, umami depth of grilled mushrooms stands in well for red meat, and works particularly well against the wine's earthy, granite-driven finish. Slow-braised short rib or oxtail: a good match for a cellaring occasion, since the wine's tannin and acidity are built to cut through a long, rich braise.

From Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermented. 60% matured for 10 months in concrete, 40% in barrel, of which 10% was new. Gorgeous aromatics of red and black berries, lavender and rosemary. Great fruit purity, lively acidity and fine, supple tannins. Deftly made, polished rather than glossy, its refinement never coming at the expense of site expression. Alc: 13.8% CE’s rating: 97 | Serious - Winemag.co.za

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.8% | TA 5.1g/L | pH 3.63 | RS 2.0g/L