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Intellego

2018

Syrah

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

About

The artwork depicted on this Syrah bottle is intended to sync with the Intellego Chenin Blanc label; they both illustrate the two opposing seasons of summer and winter. This tells a greater story of the Swartland’s raw climate, which can have drastic shifts, not only diurnally but seasonally. The fruit is from a single bush vine, dry-farmed block deep in the heart of Swartland’s Paardeberg on a slope of decomposed granite overlooking Table Mountain. The blocks receives cooler southwesterly winds in the summer to bring reprieve during the hot months. Jurgen farms without the use of glyphosate, and while not certified, the wine is organic for all intents and purposes.

Whole clusters of the beautiful Syrah fruit were placed in open-top plastic fermenters and allowed to ferment on skins for two weeks until 13% alcohol. After this time, the wine was pressed off the skins and was sent to old French oak where it spent 10 months to develop and add structure. It was bottled without fining or filtration, and just the slightest sulfur addition to preserve freshness.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Boschgaasfontein (Paardeberg, Swartland)
  • Vine Age: 15-years-old
  • Soil Type: Decomposed granite
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic
  • Fermentation: Native – open-top plastic fermenters (100% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 2 weeks
  • Aging: 10 months in old French oak
  • Alcohol: 12.5%
  • pH: 3.71
  • Total Acidity: 5.8 g/L
  • Total SO2: 38 ppm
  • Total Production: 167 cases
  • UPC: None

Tasting Notes

Deep yet bright, this wine has notes of blackberry, dried herbs, and earth. Youthful red berry fruits come through on the medium-bodied palate, and bright acidity brings you to the finish, complete with smooth tannins.

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

96

"The first time that Gouws utilised grapes from a 2003 Paardeberg vineyard planted on granite. An arresting nose showing black berries, pomegranate, spice and earth. The palate has great depth and density of fruit, bright acidity and fine yet grippy tannins making for a long, dry finish. Incredibly tightly wound and well structured for a wine with an alcohol of just 12% – promises much in time to come."

- Christian Eedes

Producer


Intellego

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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