This wine is part of a line that Craig and Carla started in 2015. They wanted to work with vineyards that deliver wines that can be drunk young yet still overdeliver in quality. The 2025 vintage was preceded by one of the wettest winters on recent record (again). A total of 27 inches fell on Bandits Kloof Farm, more than the previous year. The first real heat came on the 25th of December, resulting in significant sunburn. About 20-30% of the crop was lost, helping reduce an already big crop and resulting in a fantastic vintage. The relatively cool growing days and nights led to a wine that is well-balanced with higher natural acidity and pure fruit. Vinification focused specifically on increasing intensity and flavor by lowering the pH and increasing tannin without compromising drinkability, resulting in an extremely quaffable wine. The 2025 label returns to its original form from its beginnings in 2015, featuring a photo taken by Craig’s brother, who practices photography as an art form.
The grapes were hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed before fermenting spontaneously in an old oak foudre and stainless steel tanks. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation, was then blended in a tank, and bottled with just a dash of sulfur and a gentle filter. No fining.
