Syrah
75cl * 13.5% ABV * South Africa
From one of the most distinctive sites in the Swartland, Porseleinberg is nothing short of spectacular. The 2022 vintage stands out as the lowest-alcohol bottling ever produced there, the result of a hot, dry end to the season that naturally checked ripening and delivered fruit of remarkable concentration and purity.
In the glass, it shows a mid-deep ruby colour, with an immediately expressive nose. Aromas of wild herbs - sage, rosemary, and thyme - mingle with red cherries, plums, and blackberries, lifted by delicate notes of dried flowers and spice. On the palate, the fruit is pure and precise, framed by chalky tannins that lend the wine structure. There is a nice minerality, layered with spice and herbal complexity.
Aged in a mix of large foudres and concrete to preserve freshness, this is a Syrah of both power and finesse. Already approachable, it promises at least a decade of graceful development.
'Produced in the teeth of what Callie Louw calls a "crazy year", with lots of winter rain and one of the hottest Januaries ever, this is the latest in a series of world-class Syrahs from the brilliant Callie Louw. Fermented and aged in foudres and 15% concrete, using the submerged cap technique that has transformed the style here, this has 95% whole bunches, fynbos and Mediterranean herb aromas, sculpted, detailed tannins and layers of plum, blackberry and raspberry and impressive freshness for a wine with a pH of 4.1. A refined wine from a brutal site.' 99pts - Tim Atkin MW
'The Porseleinberg 2022 Swartland Syrah shows extra smokiness and spice. New foudre were delivered and were used for the first time in this wine. Rain was abundant at 470 milliliters (the average in these parts is 450 milliliters), and the alcohol is low at 13.3%. Drinking the 2022 now is premature, as the wine is still quite shy and restrained. A challenging ripening phase was followed by prolonged heat in January and big diurnal temperature shifts. Winemaker Callie Louw calls it "stress maturing," which results in a bigger, more muscular fruit profile with open-knit tannins and abundant fruit. Callie Louw puts a priority on exposing the character of a vintage. All man-made variables remain constant. The DNA of this particular site is reflected in the tannins of the wine. They are chalky and elegant.' 94+ pts - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Drink now - 2040.