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Van Loggerenberg Wines

2022

‘Graft’

Syrah   |   Stellenbosch - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

This wine has quickly become one of the benchmark Syrahs in South Africa, and with good reason. The name ‘Graft’ has a few meanings to Lukas, and the first of which relates to some very sound advice his grandfather gave. He told Lukas that was if you want to make a success of something, you need to put in the hard yards and graft (symbolized by the man working in the top left hand corner). Secondly, graft refers to the viticultural practice of joining a scion of one variety to the trunk of another, forming a stronger whole. Lukas continues with the ‘Karibib Vineyard’ as the source for this ultra-impressive Syrah, and he now shares this block with Reenen Borman for Sons of Sugarland, Sam Lambson of Minimalist Wines, as well as Jean Smits for Damascene. The granitic soils and cooler climate of the Polkadraai have proven to produce truly world-class Syrah, especially in the hands of the aforementioned winemakers.

The fruit was hand-harvested and naturally fermented in large open top stainless-steel entirely whole-bunch without any additions. The fruit was manually trodden daily over the course of the next 21 days. The lots were then pressed directly to a mix of 70% concrete and 30% second-fill French oak barrels for maturation. Following 11 months of aging peacefully, the barrels were racked to tank to settle naturally and bottled without fining or filtration.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Karibib Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 16-years-old
  • Soil Type: Decomposed granitic sand
  • Viticulture: Sustainable - practicing organic
  • Fermentation: Native – large inert plastic tanks (100% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 21 days
  • Aging: 11 months in concrete (70%) and second-fill French oak (30%)
  • Alcohol: 14.2%
  • pH: 3.62
  • Total Acidity: 4.9 g/L
  • Total SO2: 65 ppm
  • Total Production: 333 cases
  • UPC: 0606110388450

Tasting Note

Indigo in color. Fresh aromas of black pepper, dried rosemary, oregano, and olive tapenade. The nose melds seamlessly into the medium-bodied palate laced with a mineral dusting against a finely tannic frame. Open in its youth, this wine is ready to drink now.

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

95

"Grapes from the fabled Karibib property in Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Matured in a combination of barrel and concrete tank for 10 months. Super-complex aromatics of red and black berries, potpourri, dried herbs and white pepper. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and powdery tannins. As with many wines from 2022, this wine doesn’t have the same fruit density as the previous vintage and is already quite open – hugely pleasurable all the same. Abv: 14%."

- Christian Eedes

Tim Atkin, MW

96

"'A freak of a vineyard', is how Lukas van Loggerenberg describes Karibib, the source of several of the Cape's most exciting Syrahs, including this one. Fermented with whole bunches before ageing in a 70/30 combination of concrete and older barrels, Graft is a violet, lavender and paprika-scented red with a palate of damson, black olive and blackberry, dense, layered tannins and the grip and concentration to age. World class. 2025-32"

- Tim Atkin, MW

Vinous

97

"The 2022 Graft is pure Syrah from Polkadraai Hills that is matured two-thirds in concrete, the remainder in second-fill barrels. "It's the easiest wine I make because of the quality of the vineyard," Van Loggerenberg mentions. It has a stunning crushed violet petal, mineral-driven bouquet that effortlessly subsumes the 100% whole bunch. The palate is supremely well-balanced and tensile, with touches of pink peppercorn and brine infusing the black fruit, leading to another, almost Cornas-like, pliant finish. This might be the finest wine that I have tasted from Lukas Van Loggerenberg (so far)."

- Neal Martin
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Producer


Van Loggerenberg Wines

Region


Stellenbosch

Country


South Africa

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