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Van Loggerenberg Wines

2021

‘Graft’

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

About

This wine has quickly become one of the benchmark Syrahs in South Africa, and with good reason. The name ‘Graft’ has a few meanings to Lukas and the first of which relates to some very sound advice his grandfather gave that was if you want to make a success of something you need to put in the hard yards and graft (symbolized by the man working in the top left hand corner). Secondly it is also symbolized on the label how two individual parts can be grafted together to form a stronger and more meaningful whole as shown by the vines being grafted together. Lukas continues with the ‘Karibib Vineyard’ as the source for this ultra-impressive Syrah, and he now shares this block with Reenen Borman for Sons of Sugarland, Sam Lambson of Minimalist Wines, as well as Jean Smits for Damascene. The granitic soils and cooler climate of the Polkadraai have proven to produce truly world-class Syrah, especially in the hands of the aforementioned winemakers.

The fruit was hand-harvested and naturally fermented in large open top stainless-steel entirely whole-bunch without any additions. The fruit was manually trodden daily over the course of the next 17 days. The lots were then pressed directly to three-year-old 500L French puncheons for maturation. Following 10 months of aging peacefully the barrels were racked to tank to settle naturally and bottled without fining or filtration.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Karibib Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 15-years-old
  • Soil Type: Decomposed granitic sand
  • Viticulture: Sustainable - practicing organic
  • Fermentation: Native – large inert plastic tanks (100% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 17 days
  • Aging: 10 months in third-fill 500L French demi-muid
  • Alcohol: 13.7%
  • pH: 3.67
  • Total Acidity: 5.3 g/L
  • Total SO2: 58 ppm
  • Total Production: 143 cases
  • UPC: 0606110388450

Tasting Note

Indigo in color. The alluring and complex nose figuratively grabs your face and pulls it into the glass. Notes of red and black berries with cracked black pepper, black olive tapenade, crushed violets and wild lavender with rosemary. The palate is dusty but exotic with immense fruit purity and a noticeable fineness, all wrapped in a full-bodied wine that is lighter on its feet than the texture suggests. The minerally tannins remain persistent throughout the lengthy finish.

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

98

"Truly beautiful aromatics including St Joseph’s lilies, red and black berries, fynbos, earth, pepper and clove while the palate shows great clarity of fruit, punchy acidity and fine tannins. A statuesque wine – muscular but not bulky. Great flavour intensity, harmonious and super-long on the finish." - Christian Eedes

Tim Atkin, MW

97

"'Easy to make' it may be, thanks to the quality of the grapes, but this world class Syrah from the Karibib vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills is still stunning. Focused, spicy and hauntingly perfumed, with clove and rosemary aromas, tapenade and blackberry fruit, fine tannins and the focus and freshness that are features of the Van Loggerenberg style. 2024-33."
- Tim Atkin, MW
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Producer


Van Loggerenberg Wines

Region


Stellenbosch

Country


South Africa

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