2023 Minimalist Wines Stars in the Dark Syrah
£32.00
“Syrah from Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of viticulture on the African continent. Cool, limpid tones of iced black cherries, blackcurrant confit, violets and white pepper. Parcels are kept separate during fermentation and maturation, and blended just prior to bottling. An average of 35% whole-bunch magnifies the spice and vibrant red fruit energy on the palate, complemented by featherweight tannins. Intensely pure and buoyed by a saline acidity.”
96 Points, Malu Lambert, Decanter
“Smells spicy, medicinal, wintergreen and balm. Taffeta texture to those tannins with a splice of cumin and iodine, coffee and chicory. Rose hips. The fruit is like a soft kiss, almost breathy, barely there. Sam Lambson is like the John Sargent of Syrah winemakers, somehow capturing the intricacy and intimacy and power of colour and light in the most transparent, light-touch way possible. Despite the tight, tight finish, the wine seems to float. I wouldn’t rush to drink this now, although it would be difficult to resist.”
17.5/20 Tamlyn Currin for Jancis Robinson MW
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Product Description
Sam Lambson is the founder and owner of Minimalist Wines which as the name suggests craft wines with minimal intervention. Sam is proving to be one of the bright young stars of the Cape wine scene, having developed a particular love (and following) for cool climate Syrah.
About Stars in the Dark Syrah:
Vineyards:
“Some of the best things in life emerge from tough times and dark places”.True in wine, as in life, this message appears on the bottle’s back label to reflect the resilience of the Syrah vines that grow in the southern tip of Africa. Conditions are extreme on the harsh, exposed slopes of Cape Agulhas and, as always, we’re astonished and delighted by what nature delivers.
The Blend:
100% Cape Agulhas Syrah
Three cool climate, low-altitude Syrah parcels (50m-80m above sea level), just 8km from the stark and blustery Agulhas coast. As a pioneering wine region, vines are 23-24 years old with a predominant North West aspect, planted on Clay and Koffieklip soils.
The Vintage:
An early and energetic vintage, that proves just how extreme Cape Agulhas can be. Less wind than usual benefitted flowering and set, but brought with it increased disease pressure reducing crop. Veraison and the onset of ripening tracked 2 weeks earlier than the norm, but we’ll remember 2023 for its untimely late rains. Once the picking started, it was a 2 and a half week race against the rain to get our crop safely into the cellar. The wines are bright and full of life, singing home the tune of “Some of the best things in life emerge from tough times and dark places”.
Winemaking:
We begin harvesting in the cool, early hours of the morning into 15kg lug boxes. Grapes are transported to the cellar in a refrigerated truck where they are cooled overnight. Following gentle foot-stomping and crushing, spontaneous fermentation takes place in a combination of open and closed top fermenters with a single daily pump over. A great deal of effort goes into keeping parcels separate during fermentation and maturation, opting to blend just prior to bottling.Every pick and vintage is unique, so we vary the percentage of whole bunches (whole cluster) with an average of 35% making this blend. Maturation in 225L, 228L and 300L neutral French oak barrels lasted 12 months.
Appellation: Cape Agulhas
Alcohol: 12.81%
Harvested: 28/02/2023 – 08/03/2023
On Skins: 13 Days
Elevage: 12 Months in 225L, 228L and 300L neutral French oak Barrels
Bottled: 07/05/2024
Additional Information
| ABV | 13% |
|---|---|
| Bottle Size | Bottle 75cl |
| Colour | Red |
| Country | South Africa |
| Critic Score | 96/100 |
| Drink until | 2035 |
| Style | Still |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Vintage | 2023 |
