2019 GRAFT SYRAH. Lukas van Loggerenberg. Polkadraai Hills. South Africa

The Graft Syrah comes from the delimited area of Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch, grown on granite hills – just like in the North Rhône.

100% Syrah

Lukas is a “self-made” man having “grafted” his way as he says (hence the name of the Syrah!) working with several renowned South African producers along the way (and a spell working on the East Coast of America) before setting up his own winery with his wife Roxanne in 2015.

100% whole bunch fermented with indigenous yeasts and with punching down. The malolactic took place in barrel and the wine was aged for 10 months in French oak casks (of which 20% were new).

You can drink now but can equally age for another in 3-5 years.

Very pure, with elevated blackberry fruit, cracked black and pink peppercorn and a nice touch of savouriness. Medium bodied with an elegant oak framework. There is real precision here and a real touch of the North Rhône in style for sure.