in the vineyard : Clone: Sh21A
Rootstock: Richter 110, 99
Fruit source: from own Oude Nektar vineyards in Jonkershoek
Trellis: 5-wire vsp
Irrigation: supplemental drip irrigation
Vineyard elevation: 300m - 310m
Slope: South Westerly
in the cellar : This is a single-vineyard wine from our highest elevation Syrah vineyard, a small block contiguous to our single-vineyard Cabernet. After being cooled overnight to 12° C, they were carefully hand-sorted and crushed into small open fermentation vats and allowed to cold-soak for several days. A small portion was left whole bunch and also uncrushed. About 50% of the blend was natural fermentation and the balance was split between a domestic yeast and an imported Rhône yeast. Regular, vigorous punch-downs were given every 4 hours for the first half of fermentation, then every 6 - 8 hours thereafter. At dryness (average 8 - 9 days), the wine was basket pressed and racked directly to barrel for malo-lactic fermentation and subsequent barrel maturation. A mix of coopers was used, all French oak, all 300 litre, mostly second-fill and about 40% new. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered after 22 months barrel maturation.