Syrah, Ava, 2023
One of the great modern-day South African Syrahs, the Ava 2023 is the more concentrated and serious Syrah that Donovan produces. Packed full of character as always, with layers of mineral-rich spices, dried herbs and windswept fruits and flowers, it has a super fine and chiselled feel. 100% whole bunch fermented and raised in barrel for a year.
critic reviews
The Rall 2023 Swartland Syrah sees a brief six months of concrete, and fruit comes from a site with schistic soils. The wine shows lots of primary fruit with rosemary flower, blackberry and crushed stone. Herbal notes of wild fynbos shrub, black tea and pretty hints of pipe tobacco emerge as the wine opens in the glass. Again, no oak is used. The alcohol content measures a contained 12.5%, and the wine is underlined with freshness and primary fruit intensity.
The 2023 Syrah Ava comes from two sites in Swartland, done with 100% whole bunches and aged in a 3,000-liter foudre. Very floral on the nose, this offers crushed violets, fynbos and touches of cassis and blueberry. The palate is very savory, almost flinty on the entry, with impressive depth. Initially strict and linear, it fans out gloriously on the finish. This is another great wine from winemaker Donovan Rall.