Saronsberg Cellar
Shiraz 2020
| Denomination | N/A |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Area | South Africa (South Africa) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Syrah |
| Aging | After malolactic fermentation, the wines were given a low dose of sulphur and left on the gross lees for 10 months. The wine was then racked, blended and returned to barriques. After a total of 20 months in barriques, the wine was racked and filtered through a coarse sheet filter. |
- Grape variety and alcohol content: 100% dry Shiraz, 14.5% vol, harvested in 2020
- Aromatic profile: notes of ripe fruit, violet and spices; intense, deep purple colour
- Palate and finish: full-bodied structure, soft tannins, well-integrated oak, long and fruity finish
- Vinification and ageing: gravity-fed fermentation, long maceration, 20 months in barrique
- Serving and pairings: decant for 1 hour, serve at 16-18°C; ideal with meats and mature cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
Saronsberg Shiraz is a still red wine from South Africa with a deep purple colour. On the nose, it offers aromas of ripe fruit and elegant floral notes, with hints of violet and spices. On the palate, it is structured and deep, balanced by finely crafted tannins and integrated oak, with a long fruity finish. After decanting for an hour, it pairs well with meats, roast pork and mature cheeses.
Where it comes from
This Shiraz is produced in South Africa, specifically in the Tulbagh Valley, within the Western Cape region, at the foot of Mount Saronsberg. The vines grow on distinctive partially weathered schist soils rich in coarse fragments, combined with yellow-red clay-loam soils characterised by a high rocky content. This unique geological composition of the vineyard, together with low yields, gives the wine a concentrated flavour profile and a defined tannic structure. The dedicated winemaking in this area is reflected in international critical acclaim, confirming the high potential of this South African wine region for producing structured red wines.
How it is produced
Vinification begins with hand harvesting at dawn, followed by rapid cooling of the grapes and careful selection on vibrating tables. The must undergoes gravity-fed fermentation in vats, with manual punch-downs and daily pump-overs at controlled temperatures. This is followed by prolonged maceration on the skins to optimise extraction of colour and aromas. After malolactic fermentation and ten months resting on the gross lees, the wine undergoes a careful blend before ageing for a total of twenty months in barrels, and is finally racked and given a coarse filtration to preserve its structural integrity.
History and Curiosities
A jewel in the crown of the renowned South African winery, the Saronsberg Shiraz 2020 is produced at the foot of Mount Saronsberg, in the Tulbagh Valley. Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns meticulously oversees every stage, from manual harvesting to gravity-fed vinification. Twenty months of ageing in barriques release enveloping notes of violet and spices, imparting velvety tannins that have won over international critics, earning the prestigious 92 points from Robert Parker.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns, who has been head winemaker since 2003, is passionate about every aspect of the winemaking process, which is unique and quite labour intensive. Handpicking, intensive sorting of the berries, a gravity-fed fermentation cellar and focus on attention to detail are key to the phenomenal success Saronsberg wines have consistently enjoyed since the maiden vintage in 2004. This consistent performance has led to Dewaldt being nominated and accepted as member of the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 2008. Read more
| Name | Saronsberg Shiraz 2020 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | N/A |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Syrah |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | South Africa |
| Vendor | Saronsberg Cellar |
| Story | History and Curiosities A jewel in the crown of the renowned South African winery, the Saronsberg Shiraz 2020 is produced at the foot of Mount Saronsberg, in the Tulbagh Valley. Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns meticulously oversees every stage, from manual harvesting to gravity-fed vinification. Twenty months of ageing in barriques release enveloping notes of violet and spices, imparting velvety tannins that have won over international critics, earning the prestigious 92 points from Robert Parker. |
| Origin | Tulbagh Valley, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Soil composition | Partially weathered schistose soils with a high percentage of coarse fragments and some yellow-red clay-loam soils with a rock content of 40% |
| Yield per hectare | 37 hl/ha |
| Fermentation temperature | Peak at 28 °C, then lowered to 24 °C |
| Fermentation | Da 11 a 24 giorni |
| Production technique | Fermentation fed by gravity with manual punching down and pumping over; prolonged maceration; ageing in barriques for 20 months |
| Wine making | Manual selection of grape bunches, destemming and selection of berries on vibrating tables; gentle crushing in satellite tanks and transfer to open and closed fermenters, with a portion of the berries kept whole; racking off 10 2% depending on the vineyard; fermentation with a peak at 28°C then lowered to 24°C, with manual punch-downs four times a day and one pump-over per day; extended post-fermentation maceration with total skin contact from 11 to 24 days. |
| Aging | After malolactic fermentation, the wines were given a low dose of sulphur and left on the gross lees for 10 months. The wine was then racked, blended and returned to barriques. After a total of 20 months in barriques, the wine was racked and filtered through a coarse sheet filter. |
| Total acidity | 6.5 gr/L |
| PH | 3.31 |
| Residual sugar | 2.9 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |