Damascene Swartland Syrah 2023 750ml

This Syrah, a slightly moodier expression compared to the other Damascene Syrahs, offers blackberry fruit, aniseed, mineral hints of iron, and herbal oregano. The palate is pleasantly structured, presenting the most savory profile among the three Damascene Syrahs. The wine features a solid core of wild blackberry and maraschino cherry, complemented by savory notes of roasted plum skins and olives. Herbal accents of fennel and rocket leaf, framed by firm suede-like tannins, add complexity. The finish is a harmonious blend of red currants, black cherry, black pepper, and aniseed spice.

Three vineyards contribute to this wine. The first bush vine block is located on Jakkalsfontein farm in the Paardeberg foothills, deeply rooted in ancient decomposed granite soils. This parcel comprises 25% of the blend, adding perfume, spice, and purity. The second vineyard is an echalas vineyard planted at a high altitude on the schist-covered western slopes of the Kasteelberg. The third vineyard, the largest portion of the wine, is also located on the western foothills of the Kasteelberg at 340 meters above sea level. This southeast-facing schist slope offers structure and depth of fruit. Damascene planted an additional 2 hectares of vines on this site in 2023.

This Swartland Syrah’s concentration is typical of low-yielding vineyards in Mediterranean climates. To preserve the natural elegance of the site, whole berry fermentation was employed, with roughly 75% of the fruit fermented as whole clusters. Fermentation took place in a combination of tulip-shaped concrete fermenters and 1000-liter conical oak vats. Pump-overs were limited to twice daily during peak fermentation, and submerged cap fermentation was used on all schist-rooted fruit to enhance mouthfeel and tannin integration. Both primary fermentation and malolactic conversion occurred spontaneously. The wine matured on its gross lees in 2000-liter Austrian oak vats for 11 months without racking. It was bottled without fining for a more complex and authentic expression of Syrah.