Off The Record, Syrah 2023

Description

This is the fourth vintage of the Off the Record Syrah, produced from two small parcel of Shiraz grapes, sourced from a truly unique site. This first vineyard, situated on the Ceres Plateau, is planted in fertile Bokkeveld shale soils at an astounding altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. Not many vineyards in South Africa can boast that they are covered in snow over the winter months. The Second vineyard is planted 180km directly south in the Elgin valley on the same geographical fault line making up Bokkeveld shale soils.

Only 3 860 bottles were produced from the 2023 release.

Tasting Notes:

The wine has an attractive deep red hue. The nose leads with appealing spicy aromas – white pepper supported by notes of both red and black berries, some violets and a hint of garrigue. Dark fruits follow through onto the palate with an appealing juicy entrance supported by savoury white pepper notes, a touch of salinity and rounded off with fine subtle tannins. A wonderful example of high altitude Syrah. A wine, whilst still youthful, displays the finesse we expect from cool climate, high altitude wines yet shows enormous maturation potential should you be patient enough to cellar the wine.

Winemaking:

This top-rated wine was 90% whole-bunch fermented in two small batches. Post fermentation the batched had a further 24 days post maceration before being pressed and undergoing maturation in 4th fill, French oak barrels for a period of 9 months. No commercial yeasts, enzymes or fining agents were used in the production of this wine. The wine received a light filtering prior to bottling.

Analysis:

Alc: 13.00%
RS: 1.5g/l
TA: 5.2g/l
pH: 3.54

Bottled: 1st February 2025

Additional information

Beef, lamb, poultry, and game.