Red

The 2021 Pas de Nom Red is a blend of 82% Syrah, 12% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot grown on the steep mid-slopes of Beau Constantia. They are hand-picked in the early morning hours, cooled overnight and processed to stainless-steel after being sorted down to berry level. The tank was slowly heated to temperatures that would accommodate natural fermentation, which took place under a watchful eye and curious palate that applied punch downs and pump overs as required for just the right amount of extraction. Once fermentation was complete, free-run wine was drained to barrel via gravity, as with the wine derived from the fermented skins being basket-pressed.

The 2021 season started with a cold, wet, winter that filled up soil reserves and provided sufficient cold units to break dormancy. The late cooler conditions continued well into spring, delaying bud break and initial growth. October saw the moderate temperatures and sufficiently filled soil profiles leading to rapid vineyard growth and therefore the need to closely manage fungal diseases and weeds. November brought serious wind, leading to diminished flowering and fruit set, especially higher up on our steep slopes. After February, the summer growing conditions were cool and moderate with nerve wracking amounts of morning mist and high levels of humidity forcing us to sample as often as possible, practice patience, completely reverse block orders and picking in smaller batches than before, yet eventually getting the grapes into the cellar at the optimum ripeness, HEALTHY. I found that the berries were physiologically ripe at much lower sugar levels, meaning that even though sugar ripening was delayed, we could still pick for great flavour concentration on brilliant acid levels, and pull off lower alcohol wines while doing so! This vintage shows superlative ageing potential.

The wine remained in 225L French oak, of which 35% was new, for 18 months prior to being bottled. As with all our red wines, the 2021 Pas de Nom Red is unfined and unfiltered.