Gabrielskloof, Syrah on Sandstone 2019

Gabrielskloof, Syrah on Sandstone 2019

Gabrielskloof, Syrah on Sandstone 2019

36 in stock

Gabrielskloof, Syrah on Sandstone 2019

40,26 

36 in stock

95

Tim Atkin

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

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750
SKU WC111270-2019 Category

The Landscape Series of wines is an authentic representation of our top vineyards, as well as a few old vine treasures. We wanted the labels to reflect this and decided to commission local artist and friend Niël Jonker to capture the spirit of our Overberg landscapes. The first two wines to be released as part of the series were the Magdalena and Elodie in August 2016, with the Cabernet Franc and the two single-vineyard Syrahs released in June 2017.

The idea behind having two Syrahs is to represent the two major soil types prevalent at Gabriëlskloof. Our sandstone vineyards produce a Syrah that is elegant and aromatic while the heavier shale soils offer fruit concentration and depth.

Peter-Allan Finlayson, Winemaker

Vintage

The 2019 vintage is one of exceptional quality across the board. Conditions were cool leading up to harvest with the drought easing but still generally dry leading to another year with low yields. However, the smaller bunches and berries have resulted in concentrated, characterful and age-worthy wines, and this shines through in the quality of our Landscape Series wines.

Vineyard notes

The Syrah from Sandstone site is mountainous and made up of broken Sandstone, making it incredibly tough for vineyards to grow. This merciless environment leads to natural low vigour and minimal yields, resulting in a complex, unique wine.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked into small crates and transferred directly into our cold room, where it remained overnight. About 50% of the crop was destemmed, with the rest left as whole clusters. The wine was fermented wild in small, open-top fermenters with extended post-fermentation maceration. Aged in 500L barrels for 18 months, with 10% new French Oak used.

Tasting note

Violets and pomegranate lead to a light, peaty reduction and sweet spices like sumac and cinnamon for an intense nose. The palate is silky and opulent, with hints of dark chocolate and a waxy grip that works alongside fresh acidity to add tension and structure. Will improve beyond 2025 to 2030.

Technical Analysis

Alk: 14.67% | RS: 2.5g/l | pH: 3.59 | TA: 5.4g

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