Named for its raw, bold, and "beautifully unpolished" style. It is a direct nod to the winemakers stepping out of the conventional ring and letting the grape express its truest, most muscular Swartland character without any filter.

The grapes come from Tinta Barocca vines planted in 1980 on weathered granite soils in the Paardeberg, farmed organically as dryland bush vines at around 3 to 4 tons per hectare. The fruit is hand harvested, with part of it kept as whole bunches and the rest destemmed, then semi-carbonically macerated for 21 days. The wine is basket pressed and aged for 16 months in an old oak barrel, which adds texture and structure without adding oak flavour. There is no yeast inoculation and no additives apart from a small amount of SO2, and the wine is medium filtered at bottling. Only 650 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes: A traditional-style Tinta Barocca with real depth and presence. The nose shows mulberry, dark plum and raspberry jam, with cocoa, warm spice and a hint of dried herbs and savoury earth. The palate is rich and generous yet well structured, with ripe dark fruit, a firm backbone of acidity and grippy, well-integrated tannins from long ageing in old oak. The finish is long and warming, with spice and a touch of dark chocolate. A wine built for the table, and one that will reward a little time in the cellar

Food Pairing: The producer's own recommendation is a red meat dish, and it is hard to improve on that. Pair it with grilled rump or sirloin, slow-roasted pork shoulder, braised lamb shank or a hearty oxtail stew. It also loves Portuguese-style cooking, from grilled sausage and spiced stews to roast lamb with garlic and rosemary. For a cheese course, choose a mature hard cheese or a firm, nutty aged Gouda.

ANALYSIS: ALC 14.83% | TA 5.30g/L | pH 4.01 | RS 1.07g/L