Meinert ‘The Graduate’ Syrah 2020

Meinert ‘The Graduate’ Syrah 2018

Winemaking

Our Syrah grapes are always the last come into the cellar and after careful hand harvesting the fruit is transported by means of refrigerated truck to our cellar in Devon Valley.  A portion of the fruit is whole-bunch fermented where whole bunches are placed into stainless steel red wine fermenters and covered with de-stemmed and partially crushed berries. The balance is fermented traditionally following careful destemming and berry sorting. The individual components are matured for 12 months prior to bottling in a selection of seasoned French oak barrels. Only 4191 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Displays lovely floral perfume, tea leaf, and fynbos aromas, followed by complex layers of red berries and a hint of olive brine. The palate is beautifully structured with supple tannins and balanced acidity, delivering a medium-bodied, nuanced wine that is both elegant and approachable. The finish is long and clean, showcasing signature Syrah pepper spice and a refined mineral character.

Analysis

Alcohol: 13.5 %
Residual Sugar: 1.8 g/l
Total Acidity: 5.2 g/l
pH: 3.72
Wine of Origin: Upper Hemel-en-Aarde

Vineyards

We are not allowed to mention this on the wine’s back label as the Wine & Spirit Board prohibits pretension of single vineyard status unless so certified. However, the grapes are sourced from a single Syrah block in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde overlooking the coast and are farmed with much love and a surgical-precision attention to detail yielding truly remarkable fruit. Our yields typically max at around 6t/ha.

Special Notes

Our Family Collection wines are unique bottlings from small lots made for family, friends and loyal customers, and one such wine is The Graduate Syrah. While traversing the Cape’s many vineyards to find THAT unique vineyard, I, by chance, stumbled across gnarled Syrah vines basking in the sea breezes of Hermanus. In true fashion, these grapes are always the last to ripen and when allowed to take their own course, yield an interesting and unique wine. This wine bears testament to not only the graduation of the vines from soil to glass, but also its custodian, Brendan Butler, a Cape Wine Master.