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Blackwater

2017

‘Cultellus’

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

About

Cultellus is a derivative of the Latin word ‘culter’ meaning knife. It means a small knife or dagger, referring to the appearance of the razor blade looking schist in the vineyard. Francois has had an unbelievable run with this wine starting with the 2015 vintage. The 2017 is a long overdue release of a Platter 5-star Syrah, showcasing the iron-rich, minerally schist of the Papkuilsfontein Vineyard just southeast of Malmesbury on the Kasteelberg.

The bunches were handpicked and 40% were destemmed with the rest left as whole bunches. The destemmed fruit was placed in the bottom with the whole-clusters on top in a single one-ton fermenter and fermented without any additions. Manual hand-plunging was used to keep the ferment going and for extraction. After three weeks the wine was pressed directly to old 300L French barrels. After 18 months the wine was racked off the fine lees and bottled without fining or filtration and just a small addition of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Papkuilsfontein Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 18-years-old
  • Soil Type: Iron-rich schist
  • Viticulture: Practicing Organic – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – stainless-steel (60% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 3 weeks
  • Aging: 18 months in old 300L French oak
  • Alcohol: 13.7%
  • pH: 3.8
  • Total Acidity: 6 g/L
  • Total SO2: 50 ppm
  • Total Production: 100 cases
  • UPC: 6009879826012

Tasting Note

In the glass, the wine is filled with notes of cassis, blackberry, smoked meat, and lavender. It transforms in the mouth to reveal plenty of underlying black pepper spice, further showcased by firm tannins. It is incredibly savory with a beautifully silky finish.

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Producer


Blackwater

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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