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Craven

2022

‘Firs Vineyard’

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

About

Syrah is a grape that Mick and Jeanine have a soft spot for. They believe there are some really special and unique sites and plantings of Syrah. In the past they made a second Syrah from the Faure region but found the wine to lack the verve that the Firs Vineyard has, and made the switch in 2019. The Firs Vineyard is owned and farmed by Deon Joubert, located in the warmest enclave of Stellenbosch that Mick pulls fruit from, Devon Valley. The soils are very rich, deep, red soil with high clay content that gives a richness to the wine but keep in mind that Mick picks quite early and there is plenty of that lovely peppery, meaty, high tones that cool-climate Syrah fans adore.

The bunches were hand-harvested and fermented entirely whole-cluster in open-top stainless-steel fermenters. The bunches were lightly foot-stomped to extract a bit of juice and then over the course of a week, gentle pumpovers were performed once or twice daily, as they want to minimize extraction and maintain as many whole bunches as possible. After about a week, the wine was gently pressed into old French puncheons for maturation for roughly 12 months. The wine was then bottled without fining or filtration and just a small addition of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Firs Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 23-years-old
  • Soil Type: Deep, rich, shale soil with red clay deposits
  • Viticulture: Practicing Organic - sustainable
  • Fermentation: Native – open-top stainless-steel (100% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 9 days
  • Aging: 12 months in neutral 500L French tonneau
  • Alcohol: 13%
  • pH: 3.65
  • Total Acidity: 5.2 g/L
  • Total SO2: 48 ppm
  • Total Production: 250 cases
  • UPC: 6009803564416

Tasting Note

The subtle bouquet opens nicely with aeration; the 100% whole clusters are very discreet and allow the variety to express itself. The well-balanced palate is medium-bodied with a slightly pastille-like opening, mulberry and blueberry fruit and superbly judged acidity. Hints of green olive develop toward the composed, persistent finish. Superb.

Press & Reviews

Vinous

93

"The 2022 Syrah The Firs is 100% whole cluster fermented in open-top vats, then aged in 500-liter French barrels (from the next vintage, this will be in concrete). This has a lovely bouquet with brambly red fruit and touches of sage and potpourri gently unfolding with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, nicely focused and poised with a pure, peppery finish that lingers. A kind of 'less is more' Syrah from Craven. Excellent."

- Neal Martin

The WineMag

96

"Grapes from a Devon Valley on rich soils with a high clay content. 100% whole-bunch fermentation before maturation lasting 10 months in older oak. Enticing aromatics of lavender and violets before red and black berries with a hint of fynbos in the background. Great fruit purity, bright acidity and fine, velvety tannins. Dense but certainly not too opulent, this vintage is poised and drinks effortlessly."

- Christian Eedes
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Producer


Craven

Region


Stellenbosch

Country


South Africa

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