‘Sybille’

Pinotage Pét-Nat | Swartland - South Africa

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About

Sybille is a ship that became stranded opposite Jurgen’s grandmother’s farm, where she lived for 57 years, at Lambert’s Bay on the West Coast of South Africa in 1901 during the Boer War. This Pinotage pét-nat is a tribute to her, as she passed away in January 2022, the same week the grapes were harvested from Langkloof on the Paardeberg mountain in the Swartland. The period at the end of the word ‘Sybille’ symbolizes the passing of his grandmother and the end of a long chapter with Sybille. Referring to his grandmother in Afrikaans slang for ‘old lady’, Jurgen still has “fond memories of a sometimes difficult tannie!”

The grapes were harvested by hand from the organically farmed Langkloof farm on the Paardeberg mountain in the Swartland. They were pressed straight away; the only skin contact was at the press. After spontaneous fermentation, the wine was bottled with a bit of residual sugar (7.7 g/L) and was kept on the lees in the bottle for 7 months. The wine was disgorged on October 28, 2022 and was rebottled without fining, filtering, or added sulfur.

Stats

Grapes: 100% Pinotage
Vineyard: Langkloof
Vine Age: 55-years-old
Soil Type: Granite
Viticulture: Practicing organic
Fermentation: Native — stainless-steel
Skin Contact: Only at the press
Aging: 7 months on the lees in bottle
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 7.7 g/L
pH: 3.52
Total Acidity: 5 g/L
Total SO2: 13 g/L (none added)
Total Production: 182 cases

Tasting Notes

This wine really shows the range of Pinotage’s capabilities. Far from its usual muscular build, this wine is lighter and fresher, with aromas of pomegranate, raspberry, and rosemary. The palate is pleasantly fizzy, with a touch of candied fig sweetness balanced on an angular frame. A tickle of tannins is felt on the clean, energetic finish.

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2022

‘Sybille’

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