‘Hinterlands’ is an expression of cool climate Syrah from the Walker Bay region of South Africa, just south of Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s Pass. This wine follows the same philosophy as Mark’s ‘Journey to the Centre of the Universe’ Fumé Blanc in that it is a blend of three exceptional vineyards each planted to different soils and with their own climatic influences. The unique characteristic of these south-facing, cool sites is that ripening is incredibly slow. The last vineyard was harvested on April 3rd (pretty late for South Africa!) and finished with an alcohol of just 12.4%. This slow ripening allows for more savory flavor development and a more precise tannin structure. In 2022, this wine deserved extended maceration which has led to wonderfully soft and luscious tannins, deep and dark fruit flavors along with a characteristic fynbos backdrop.
The grapes were hand-harvested and 20% remained as whole-bunches with the rest being de-stemmed. The fruit was placed into neutral 225L oak barrels for spontaneous fermentation. After five weeks, the wine was pressed off the skins and was sent back to the same barrels for 11 months of aging. The wine was then bottled without fining, filtration, or any additives whatsoever.