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Wolf & Woman

2023

Syrah

Swartland - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Jolandie is a huge Northern Rhône fan, and while she’s not trying to replicate it, she also felt like she couldn’t not make Syrah in the Swartland. The 2023 vintage is a blend of two regions: 90% from Malmesbury on red, iron-rich soils, and 10% from Riebeekberg on schist. The iron component provides all the aromatics with a denser tannin and the schist component provide structure, concentration and grippy tannin. The 2022-2023 vintage was dryer and warmer than normal, though at véraison they had some good rains which brought necessary relief to the vines. The weather stayed moderate during ripening without any extreme heat spikes.

All of the vineyards were picked separately in crates and transported to the cellar where they spent three days cold soaking. The following day, bunch sorting took place before the grapes went to open-top fermenters. About 85% of the grapes were de-stemmed but uncrushed and the remainder fermented as whole clusters. The wine spent 12 additional days on the skins before being lightly pressed to old, 300-500-L oak barrels for 10 months. After this period, the wines were racked, blended, and bottled without fining and with a coarse filtration and just a small addition of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: 90% Malmesbury - 10% Riebeekberg
  • Vine Age: Average: 26-years-old
  • Soil Type: Red, iron-rich soils (Malmesbury) - Schist (Riebeekberg)
  • Viticulture: Sustainable – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native yeast – open-top fermenter (85% de-stemmed, 15% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 15 days
  • Aging: 10 months in 300-500L seasoned oak barrels
  • Alcohol: 13.4%
  • pH: 3.8
  • Total Acidity: 5.4 g/L
  • Total SO2: 60 ppm
  • Total Production: 225 cases
  • UPC: 658325084610

Tasting Note

This is aromatic Syrah! It shows a racy blend of spice, florals, and berries on the nose, then a juicy palate with a hint of pepper, wrapped in silky tannins. Sip it slowly and think.

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

94

"90% of grapes from north-west of Malmesbury on iron-rich clay soils, 10% from Kasteelberg on schist. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Red berries, lilies, fynbos, cured meat, white pepper and earth on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and nicely balanced – good fruit expression, fresh acidity and powdery tannins, the finish gently savoury."

- Christian Eedes

Tim Atkin, MW

94

"A vineyard on red clay in Malmesbury provides the dominant component for this Swartland Syrah, with the remaining 10% sourced from Kasteelberg schist. Entirely whole bunch fermented, it's a dense, compact wine that needs more time in bottle, with lots of concentration and grip, layers of damson, cranberry and wild herbs and some underlying ferrous grip."

- Tim Atkin, MW

Vinous

90

"The 2023 Syrah comes mainly from Paadeberg, mostly from clay soils. Done with 100% whole cluster and 12-14 days of skin contact, it matured in used barrels for ten months. This has a generous, floral bouquet with redcurrant, wild strawberry and just a slight touch of Provençal herbs. I'd just like a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with bolder tannins and darker fruit, brambly in character and oddly, quite Pinotage-like in style, perhaps due to the stem addition. There’s fine sappiness on the finish. I would afford this 12 months in bottle."

- Neal Martin
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Producer


Wolf & Woman

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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