Syrah

Best paired with lamb kofta or sticky short rib.

The Carinus Syrah comes from a vineyard in the Polkadraai ward of Stellenbosch. It was planted in 1996 on very unromantic sandy soils. It was also grafted on Ramsey rootstock, which will dig to Japan if necessary to find water. In 2013 we ripped out most of the vineyard and kept just under a hectare. We also removed the irrigation and started treating the vineyard with more respect and the wine it gives us improves year after year.

Aged in French oak barrels for 10 months.

Danie and Hugo Carinus have taken some liberty in calling their wine label Carinus Family Vineyards in that they are only very distantly related. They are however good friends and grape growers who supply some of the leading producers in the country from vineyards situated in Devon Valley Polkadraai and the Swartland. Their label has been around for a few years but in 2016 inveigled rising star Lukas van Loggerenberg to oversee production with good result. From a 1981 Swartland vineyard but involving more acute viticulture and a barrel selection in the cellar.