Black Granite Vintage Reserve

This robust wine pairs well with rich, hearty dishes such as braised lamb, seared duck breast, oxtail stew, venison pie, and other spicy dishes. Its bold character and smooth tannins complement the savory and intense flavors of these foods​.

The grapes for this wine are sourced from dry-land bush vines rooted in deep, dark-colored decomposed granite soils. The rich soil, combined with the region's warm days and cool nights, allows for optimal ripening of the grapes, leading to maximum fruitiness and complexity in the wine​.

The wine is matured in a combination of French and American oak barrels and oak staves, which contribute to its smooth texture and rich flavor profile. The use of oak not only enhances the wine's complexity but also adds layers of flavor such as vanilla and spice.

After careful hand-harvesting and selection, the grapes undergo gentle pressing. The fermentation process takes place in a combination of stainless steel and oak barrels, using both French and American oak staves for about 8-10 months. This method enhances the wine's full-bodied character, imparting subtle notes of vanilla and spice​.

Darling Cellars is situated on the cool west coast of South Africa on the R315 between Malmesbury and Darling, approximately 1 hour’s drive from Cape Town and 15 kms from the coast line. 1996 heralded a new era for the region of Darling with the establishment of the private cellar: Darling Cellars (Pty) Limited. With its unique terroir and the demarcation of the area as Wine of Origin Darling in 2003, the focus is on producing wines that are region and varietal true. Some 20 shareholders produce grapes from a total of ±1300ha, averaging 6 to 8 tons per hectare. The cool and temperate West Coast climate lends itself to a variety of different micro- and meso-climates which, along with the different soil types, lead to unique grapes which we guide into even more unique wines. With approximately 95% of all our vineyards being unirrigated (dry land) and roughly the same percentage being bush vines (i.e. not trellised), this is as close as one can get to what nature intended for grapes to be. These varying factors result in wines that are true to the terroir from which they come and are true to the identity which we have crafted over time for our wines. Investment continues in the winery and cellar with some of the most modern and up to date winemaking equipment in our industry today. A modern bottling line, new presses, a barrel maturation cellar, a new grape off-loading system and continuing replanting of vineyards, to include noble cultivars, all contribute to our advances in contemporary winemaking.