CAPE OF GOOD HOPE RIEBEEKSRIVIER SYRAH 2023

Gentle aromas of fruitcake, dark berries and warm spice rise from the glass, with subtle floral notes and a hint of cracked pepper adding complexity. The palate is supple and textured, echoing the nose with layers of rich berry fruit and gentle fruitcake spice. A lively thread of spice brings freshness and energy, while the velvety mouthfeel adds depth and generosity. Well-integrated oak quietly supports the fruit, creating balance and harmony without dominating. The wine finishes long and poised, with lingering notes of spice and dark fruit. Equally rewarding to enjoy now or to cellar for added complexity.

Clean, crisp lemon sherbet zest and biscuit nose. The palate follows the same track: vibrant, crisp, clean and tangy with bright freshness. Focused and poised with gentle but beguiling flavours of succulent lemon sherbet and understated trace of orange marmalade before a richer, rewarding, broad creamy toast, biscuit and brioche note from time on lees becomes apparent. Persistent dry tail.

Complex and alluring bouquet of dark berry fruits: a melange of plum, violets, spice, tobacco leaf, cedar, earth with a light, perfumed cherry blossom nuance. Velvety smooth entry. The wine is all about texture: silky, supple and pliable it glides over the tongue. Understated spicy cedar underpins the juicy succulence and rounded, ripe, plush dark berry and plum fruit flavour. Super appealing structure and composition or mouthfeel, much of which can be attributed to the unobtrusive yet elegantly harmonious oak used in its maturation. Layered, poised and deliciouslyrewarding, it lingers on the palate.

Cracked black pepper and herb aromas mingle with dark berry fruit compote on the nose. The palate is savoury with a succulence that is both refreshing and moreish. The silky mouthfeel is complemented by the ripe, dark fruit – blackberry and plum – along with a more savoury nuance of olive tapenade, spice and even a charcuterie/meatiness reminiscent of the Northern Rhône. Structured, firm body with integrated tannin demonstrating that the oak is in harmony with the fruit. It’s showing the impact of the prolonged drought in its tautness but will reward patience.