Kruithuis Syrah

Beef, Lamb, Spicy food, Mature and hard cheese

Ideal winter conditions provided substantial rainfall to supplement water reserves, with good cold units throughout the winter months of 2021. Bud-break was slightly later than usual due to the cold winter. Rainfall in the spring was also good for our vineyards during the critical times of flowering and crop set. A warm January in 2022 with a few heat waves was good for ripening, especially the red varieties. Relatively dry summer months allowed for grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness, with a long hangtime for flavour development.

Maturation took place in 300L seasoned French oak barrels for 16 months. Parcels were vinified separately and blended before bottling.

Fermentation took place in open-top stainless steel fermenters. A portion of the grapes was fermented with stems to add spicy character and freshness. During fermentation, pump-overs and punch-downs were performed 3 times daily.

Jean Engelbrecht along with his friends Dillie Malherbe and Jannie Durand set out to create a wine that would not only embody all that is Stellenbosch but that would also pay homage to this great town at the heart of the Cape winelands. Each wine in this range pays tribute to an historical landmark in Stellenbosch.