Darling is a coastal district just north of Cape Town. Here, the Benguela current that runs up the west coast of Africa usher in cooling winds that sweep through the vineyards in the afternoon. Darling used to be a part of the Wine of Origin Swartland region, with low rainfall, hot days and cool nights, but the powers that be soon realised that this area has a vastly different terroir.

The grapes were handpicked and then spent 24 hours in a cold room before processing the next day. Bunches were sorted and then whole cluster fermentation kicked off spontaneously in open-top fermenters. Punch downs happened twice per day during the 12 days that the wine spent on skins. It was then lightly pressed to a single, old 300L and 500L oak barrel where malolactic fermentation finished. After 10 months, the wine was racked, and bottled with a coarse filtration and just a small addition of sulfur. No fining.

Tasting Notes: This aromatic Syrah shows vibrant baking spices, violets, blackberries, and plums on the nose. The palate is juicy and savory, with hints of black pepper and silky tannins. As it evolves in the glass, subtle notes of smoked meat and black olives emerge, leading to a lingering, elegant finish.

ANALYSIS:  ALC 14% | RS 1.6g/l | TA 5.3g/l | pH 3.5