Deconstructed Groenland Bokkeveld Shale SH22
fuller, well coloured yet finely structured
100% Syrah made up of clone 22.
This wine is from the Northern part of Elgin that I have named 'Groenland'. This subregion sits at 420 metres above sea level on the foot-slopes of the looming Groenland mountain. Despite being a little cooler, the combined effects bring about more wind. The Bokkeveld Shales soils lie over clay that assists with water moisture retention to feed the vine, especially in dry years. They also contain a high iron content with ample nutrients enabling the wines to have more structure and density along with better concentration. Clone 22, when planted in cooler areas, is known to produce fuller, well coloured yet finely structured wines. They tend to be more concentrated as low yielding with black fruit, black pepper and meaty notes.
The wine rested in barrel for 17 months. A small number of artisanal coopers were selected, all from Burgundy and the Rhone, with only French oak chosen. Importantly this wine was micro vinified as a separate batch. In 2019 50% is new oak and was matured in two 228 litre barrels.
Alcohol: 13.88% | pH: 3.71 | RS: 1.6 g/l
R1150
per 750ml
accolades
Tim atkin
96/100
Richard Kershaw's SH22 and SH9c blocks are right next door to each other, but produce Syrahs that are very different in style. This is the more floral and perfumed of the pair - more Côte Rôtie than Cornas perhaps - with white pepper and rose petal aromas, thyme and fynbos flavours, subtle oak, tangy acidity and bramble and black cherry fruit. 2024-32.
-Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2022
