VARIETAL: Syrah

ANALYSIS: Alc. 13.7% Vol | RS 2.4 g/l | pH 3.69 | TA 5.2 g/l

ORIGIN: Stellenbosch

TASTING NOTE by Greg Sherwood MW

The Savage Red 2020 is a pure Syrah sourced exclusively from prime organically grown Stellenbosch vineyards planted on decomposed granite soils. The grapes were spontaneously fermented from wild yeasts using 50% whole clusters spending 3 to 4 weeks on skins. The wine spends 12 months in 500 litre barrels followed by a further 10 months in foudre.

Despite all the dark youthful broody density, the wine displays a gloriously perfumed aromatic profile that rises out the glass effortlessly to reveal expressive notes of lavender, sweet lilies, ripe red plum, stewed mulberries and strawberry compote before singed sandalwood, dried rosemary and thyme herbal nuances. The palate is broad and elegantly textured with plenty of sweet, sumptuous upfront red and black berry fruits, a savoury steak tartar meaty complexity, black peppercorns and a granitic infused mineral finish. Wonderfully polished sweet plush tannins make this a seriously generous wine that will offer rewarding drinking on release, but that will undoubtedly be cellar worthy for another 10 to 12+ years of development.

Wine Safari: 95/100 – Greg Sherwood