Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2022
Vineyards
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Winemaking & Maturation
A unique element in the final blend came from a portion that was kept aside as 100% intact whole clusters. This portion was stored under pressure for 30 days before pressing, undergoing carefully controlled carbonic fermentation in a sealed tank. There were no pump-overs or pigéage during fermentation, allowing this carbonic macerated component to contribute enormous purity of fruit and silky tannins to the final blend. All fermentations took place spontaneously with naturally occurring yeasts. Malolactic conversion occurred spontaneously, with maturation in 2000-litre conical Austrian oak vats for 11 months.
This wine will be at its most expressive within five years of vintage but, with careful cellaring, will continue to evolve and improve for more than a decade.
Tasting Note
Perfumed and spicy. Compelling aromas of violets, potpourri, and garrigue unfold over dark cherry, plum fruit and scented smoke. A large component of this Syrah hails from Karibib, a granitic site that lies in the path of a persistent cloud belt that runs over the top ridge on the farm. The resultant diffused light and cool temperatures safeguard the intense aromatic quality of the fruit from this vineyard. Fruit from the Bottelary ward imbues backbone, adding inky cherries and plums, while Devon Valley’s bright strawberries refresh. Super silky tannins act as a lithe backdrop for all that complexity of flavour, melting gently into a detailed finish.
