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Wolf & Woman

2023

‘Glen Frank’

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

About

When Jolandie was presented with the opportunity to secure some fruit on the Glen Frank vineyard in Darling (a district west of Malmesbury nestled ‘within’ the Swarland), she immediately said yes. This vineyard grows on a steep south-facing granitic hill, surrounded by fynbos and the most beautiful views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean 5 miles away. The diurnal shift here is evident in the wine as it results in thicker skins, which leads to a higher tannin content and more color. The cooler area also allows the grapes to ripen slower and preserve acidity… so slow, in fact that this was Jolandie’s last harvest of 2023. The label imagery is a photo that Jolandie took while standing in the vineyard, and she had it converted into a painting.

The grapes were handpicked and then spent 24 hours in a cold room before processing the next day. Bunches were sorted and then whole cluster fermentation kicked off spontaneously in open-top fermenters. Punch downs happened twice per day during the 12 days that the wine spent on skins. It was then lightly pressed to a single, old 300 L and 500 L oak barrel where malolactic fermentation finished. After 10 months, the wine was racked, and bottled with a coarse filtration and just a small addition of sulfur. No fining.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Glen Frank
  • Vine Age: 15-years-old
  • Soil Type: Granite
  • Viticulture: Sustainable – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native — stainless-steel (100% whole bunch)
  • Skin Contact: 12 days
  • Aging: 10 months in used 300L and 500L oak barrels
  • Alcohol: 13%
  • pH: 3.6
  • Total Acidity: 5.1 g/L
  • Total SO2: 65 ppm
  • Total Production: 75 cases
  • UPC: 0658325084658

Tasting Notes

This aromatic Syrah shows vibrant baking spices, violets, blackberries, and plums on the nose. The palate is juicy and savory, with hints of black pepper and silky tannins. As it evolves in the glass, subtle notes of smoked meat and black olives emerge, leading to a lingering, elegant finish.

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

93

"Grapes from a Darling vineyard, planted in 2008, south-facing and located 9km from the ocean on granite. Black berries, flowers, fynbos and some flinty reduction on the nose. The palate is light and lean with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Pure and clean with a super-dry finish."

- Christian Eedes

Tim Atkin, MW

94

"Made with grapes grown close enough to the Atlantic Ocean that you can 'see the waves', according to Jolandie Fouché, this first release of a Darling Syrah is picked last at Wolf and Woman. Compact, dense and very granitic, it's a bold, chewy, muscular red with damson, liquorice and black olive flavours and a spine of tannin. Needs more time in bottle."

- Tim Atkin, MW

Vinous

92

"The 2023 Syrah Glen Frank, named after the property in Darling, comes from a steep single site around four kilometers from the coast with a cooler mesoclimate, giving more diurnal temperature variation. It displays brambly red fruit, cracked black pepper and light rosemary and thyme scents on the nose; this has a little more complexity compared to the Paardeberg version. The 100% stem addition is very nicely integrated. The palate is well balanced with fine-boned tannins. Taut, fresh and linear in style, a dash of cracked black pepper seasons the finish, closing with satisfying length. This is a very well-crafted debut from winemaker Jolandie Fouché."

- Neal Martin

Producer


Wolf & Woman

Region


Darling

Country


South Africa

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