This medium bodied wine has soft tannins and a complex nose with blends of cherry and black pepper aromas the palette with liquorice flavours that follow through.

This wine will develop further with bottle ageing.

SOURCE:
The 2004 Syrah was produced from young vines sourced from a farm in the Franschhoek valley.

WEATHER:
The summer was dry and hot with two particularly hot periods in January and February, developing good fruit flavours and aromas.

HARVESTING:
The grapes were hand harvested in the coolness of early morning on 24th March.

VINIFICATION:
The selected bunches were de-stemmed and transferred into the fermentation tank. The grapes were fermented to dryness over a 6 day period without any prolonged skin contact to ensure soft tannins and pronounced fruit. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels (90% French, 5% Hungarian and 5% American). The wine was aged in barrel for 8 months and a further 3 months in tank. The wine has not been fined.

TASTING NOTES:
This medium bodied wine has soft tannins and a complex nose with blends of cherry and black pepper aromas. The palette is soft with liquorice flavours that follow through.

FOOD ACCOMPANIMENT:
This wine pairs well with meaty dishes, marinated stews or game fish.
This wine is released ready to drink and will develop further with bottle ageing.

TECHNICAL ANAYSIS:
pH 3.55 Alcohol 13.0%
(At bottling) Total acid 6.60gpl Residual Sugar Dry

PRODUCTION:
420 x 12 bottle cases 280 x 6 bottle cases

WINEMAKER:
Nikey van Zyl