Blueprint Syrah

Ideal with rich and smoky pork ribs or belly.

25% from our home Syrah 393 vineyard 393m above sea level on a north facing slope between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. 38% from neighbouring Keermont Steepside vineyard on a northeast facing Helderberg mountain slope. 25% from Keermont Topside vineyard on a southwest facing Stellenbosch mountain slope. Above sites iron rich decomposed granite and sandstone. Steep, stony and well drained with good water holding capacity. Av. yield 5 tons / ha (32 hl/ha). 12% from another lower lying Keermont block, "Sweetwater," a stony alluvial soil that delivers a little lighter, lovely aromatic aspect. Vineyard age 12 to 26 years. A late, but above average rainfall winter and spring ensured the soil profile was saturated contributing to a good growing season. Intermittent rain meant fungal disease pressure was quite high and we had to be on our toes with the spray programme. There were enough cold units for good even budbreak. A relatively cool growing season and ripening period meant ripening was slow and steady leading to one of the most exceptional vintages we’ve experienced. Good acidity and pHs.

21 months maturation in old barrels. Bottled by hand unfined (vegan) and unfiltered.

Handpicking into 20 kg crates. Destemming and lightly crushed directly into small open top fermentation tanks. 15% whole bunches included. Spontaneous fermentation @ max. 30deg. with the cap of skins punched down manually twice a day for an average of 16 days. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from the traditional hand basket press. Malolactic fermentation in the barrel.

A small family winery at the end of the Upper Blaauwklippen Road in the mountains above Stellenbosch South Africa. Established in 1992 by architect David Trafford & artist wife Rita with the focus on high end red wines of great intensity & longevity using minimal intervention production methods.