Porseleinberg, Syrah 2020

Porseleinberg, Syrah 2020

17 in stock

Porseleinberg, Syrah 2020

106,64 

17 in stock

98

Tim Atkin

Tim Atkin is a UK-based Master of Wine (MW) and wine journalist with an international following.

+
97

Neal Martin

Neal Martin is a wine critic and author based in the UK.

+
750
SKU PORS2020-VK Categories ,

Porseleinberg is home to a groundbreaking Cape Syrah that exemplifies the essence of terroir-driven, authentic wine. The extremely rugged and dry schistous mountain doesn’t invite easy viticulture, but of course extreme terroir produces extreme wine!

This revolutionary long-term project by Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof brought in Callie Louw as the farmer and custodian of this special vineyard. Porseleinberg Syrah is considered as one of the best Syrah’s in the World.

2020 is one of the last vintages made by Callie Louw – in 2025, he departed from Boekenhoutskloof to build up his own wine brand.

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Porseleinberg was a hot and dry season that saw 355mm of rain that moistened the soil sufficiently that, together with smooth flowering, saw larger bunches. The harvest was one of the quickest ever (February 5-19). Matured for 12 months in foudres and concrete eggs, it has a beautifully defined bouquet with a mélange of red and black fruit, wild fennel, leather and light orange rind scents that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, very harmonious, veering more toward red fruit intermixed with black pepper, clove, tobacco and allspice. Filigree on the finish, this might be the most elegant Porseleinberg to date, yet there is such finesse that you are utterly seduced. A long and prosperous future ahead. 2028-2055

97 Points
Neal Martin, vinous.com, November 2023
Aromas of red cherries, rose petal, thyme, rosemary and overturned earth. Medium- to full-bodied with fine, juicy tannins that run the length of the wine. Spicy, herbal and fruitful with a lovely approachability to its complex layering. Succulent and persistent. While this will open up with a bit more age, its already showing very well now. Drink or hold.
95 Points
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, November 2022
“We pick the vintage,” says Callie Louw, whose 2020 Porseleinberg is the second lightest in alcohol he’s ever made at 13.6%. Fermented with 100% whole bunches using the submerged cap technique that transformed the wine in 2018, this is another scented, seamless stunner from Callie Louw. Aged in large foudres and 5% concrete eggs, it’s a spicy, sappy, hauntingly elegant Syrah from a brutal site, with kelp, rose petal and fynbos aromas, juicy bramble and red berry fruit, fine tannins and a wonderful sense of energy. 2024-32
98 Points
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, June 2022
Mid-ruby in colour, the latest rendition of Porseleinberg is tight as always on the nose at this early stage. With air, layers of green peppercorn, blueberry, red hedgerow fruit, rosemary and white pepper all come through. There is a clarity and lift that makes it almost Pinor Noir-like in its youthfulness. The palate is silky and refined, with the tannins softer and more integrated than in the last two vintages – this will drink well earlier than previous iterations. Delicate and airy in fruit, it is fine-boned, with chiselled cherry and white pepper fruit in the middle. Dried herbs and violets mingle with persistent, chalky tannins towards the finish. Another excellent Porseleinberg from a vineyard quickly establishing itself as one of the very best for Syrah, both in South Africa and beyond.
95 Points
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, September 2022

Are you over 18?

We need to make sure you are the proper age before entering this website