High Hopes, Syrah, 2023

The only blend in the range, High Hopes 2023 sees the percentage of Syrah creep up further, doing away with the Cinsault to arrive at 92% Syrah and 8% Grenache. A schist-based red as a counterpoint to Lukas’ general proclivity for granite, the Syrah comes from fabled terroir in the Swartland, where the berries are small, and intensity is high. He shares the site with Donovan Rall. Brooding and crackling with an olive brine and sappy, salty, violet-scented finish, remarkably it is only 12.8% alcohol but packs in a huge amount of complexity and suave, velvety fruits. Aged 50% in concrete (all whole cluster) and 50% in Stockinger barrels (destemmed). The name is a reference to Covid-19. Lukas was hospitalised in 2020 and, in his bed, felt determined to keep pushing and looking to the future.