4 ½ Stars 2020 Platter’s South African Wine Guide
Iron fist in a velvet glove, 17 (94 pts) like nuanced 16 (93 pts), has leashed power cloaked by sexy violet-tinged black fruit & brooding inky notes. Balance of fruit & oak (22 months, 30% new) is superb. Like most of the reds, bottled unfined/filtered.

92 pts Wine Spectator 5/31/20

Pure, elegant and charming, featuring floral notes of violet and hibiscus tea that glide along, with a core of blueberry and açaí berry flavors. Vibrant acidity flows through, giving this focus and energy, while well-integrated tannins provide backbone. Long finish. Drink now through 2029. 1,362 cases made, 250 cases imported.

92 pts Decanter

92 pts Decanter

From a 27-year-old vineyard, the grapes were part destemmed and the wine matured in 300-litre French oak barrels (40% new) then bottled unfiltered and unfined, with 2% Petite Sirah blended in. It has a lifted, spicy fragrance, with cinnamon joining the berry fruits. Soft in the mouth, it’s not overly structured and has a good sense of purity and cool, inner freshness. A quietly elegant, highly drinkable Syrah.”

92 pts Decanter

From a 27-year-old vineyard, the grapes were part destemmed and the wine matured in 300-litre French oak barrels (40% new) then bottled unfiltered and unfined, with 2% Petite Sirah blended in. It has a lifted, spicy fragrance, with cinnamon joining the berry fruits. Soft in the mouth, it’s not overly structured and has a good sense of purity and cool, inner freshness. A quietly elegant, highly drinkable Syrah.”