Riebeeksrivier Syrah

Beef, Lamb, Game (deer, venison), Spicy food, Mature and hard cheese

The farm is located on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, with views of the Swartland and the iconic Table Mountain. Its distinct terroir, particularly the Rhône-like shale soils, is powerfully expressed in the fruit, producing wines of exceptional character. Two bushvine vineyards planted in 1988 and 2013 on south-facing hillsides at elevations ranging from 350 to 400 metres above sea level produce fruit with exceptional intensity and flavour, balanced by bright acidity and length. A warm and dry winter preceded the 2023 harvest, with reasonably even budding starting slightly earlier than the previous year. Warm weather persisted throughout the growing season, resulting in an overall lighter harvest in the majority of regions. Heavy rains early in December provided much relief and ensured that the vines were in good condition prior to harvest. For most of the season, the conditions were great, and the fruit quality was exceptional. Overall, a high- quality vintage promises to produce some remarkable wines.

After fermentation, the wine was transferred to barrel for malolactic fermentation before maturing for 10 to 12 months in 225 litre French oak barriques.

Grapes were handpicked into small lug boxes and transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks to preserve freshness. Each component was sorted using an optic sorting machine to ensure that only the best fruit was selected. Primary fermentation took place in a combination of stainless steel and Italian concrete tanks and the winemaking was kept gentle with minimal intervention to preserve the character of the Riebeeksrivier terroir.

This is a range created in recognition of the Cape of Good Hope’s vinous heritage which stretches back more than 350 years when the first Governor of the Cape planted grapes. These unique wines are the result of irreplaceable parcels of old vines and site specific terroirs. The labels reflect the grape variety as well as the origin and singular characters behind them.