Syrah, Swartland, 2022

In a change from previous years, the Syrah is now 95% from a 23 year old iron rich vineyard west of Malmesbury. The remaining 5% is from schist. Fermented with 100% whole bunches, extracted twice a day over two weeks on the skins, then pressed off to 500L used oak, it ages for 10 months. A little closed initially, the 2022 has a surprisingly cool seam of herbs and black pepper on the nose. As it opens, black plums, camphor, olive, lots of spice and iron emerge – it is quite a dark, savoury style. Deep and full of character, there is freshness there too.