South African Syrahs Impress Internationally
Stellenzicht Syrahs from South Africa’s Golden Triangle Wows them
Mar 31, 2009
The Golden Triangle
Stellenzicht is part of what is known as the Golden Triangle, a wine region in the Cape that has gained for itself a reputation as a producer of award-winning wines, a fact attested to by the slew of awards it has received.
Its geographics could not be more favourable for viticulture for it nestles in sunshine while the farm receives the benefit of the cooling ocean breezes that roll in from the nearby False Bay coast.
Through time, the wines from the Golden Triangle have gained a reputation as a wine area capable of producing world-class wines.
The syrah grape is considered a noble grape varietal in South Africa, and internationally one of the "big six" grapes in the industry today, along with chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir.
The Origins of the Syrah Grape
The history of the syrah grape is ancient and dates back to Roman times. It is thought that the grape originated in the Rhone Valley in France or, at any rate, that it was introduced to the country by returning Crusaders from Persia (today Iran). Today the grape is cultivated all over the world, with Australia, being an important exponent, along with French, the US and South Africa.
The so-called Old World winemakers, most notably in France, are well aware of the mysteries of terroir and they simply accept the fact that a particular terrain will give a vastly different wine than that of its neighbour a few yards away. They have had centuries to experiment and to gain knowledge of the capriciousness of soil and climate and to discover for themselves, through trial and error, which vines grow best where.
The Way of the New World
This is unlike the New World where things are sometimes a hit and miss affair and where, a planting can be disastrous or it can produce results that are dazzling.
Stellenzicht is an example of an estate producing remarkable results. Winemaker, Guy Webber, associates the particular style of wine made from the “Plum Pudding Hill” vineyard with those from the classic Rhône appellations, but why its style should be so different from the neighboring Shiraz vineyards, remains a mystery.
“With eight different Shiraz vineyards now in production on Stellenzicht, the Plum Pudding Hill block still stands out as the only one to give us that degree of classic styling with the others offering a much more “modern appeal”, said Webber.
Made in the classic northern Rhône style, the 2002 Stellenzicht Syrah has aromas brimming with ripe black fruit, hints of smoky oak, almonds and black pepper and whiffs of cloves and cinnamon. The rich intensity of ripe fruit flavors gives the wine its full-bodied structure balanced perfectly by its fresh acidity for an elegant finish. Complex flavors of sweet plums, herbaceous tobacco leaves and rich mocha add to its succulence.
This wine not only has a strong sense of place, but also comes from an impressive lineage. Its predecessor, Stellenzicht Syrah 2001, was the only South African Shiraz to be included in the top 10 ranking at the 2007 Syrah due Monde Awards in France and won the Trophy as best South African Shiraz at the 2004 International Wine Challenge in London. The wine’s successors have fared equally well:
The Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 was awarded the prestigious “Premium Berlin Gold” medal whilst the Double Gold Veritas medalist, Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Shiraz 2005, attained “Berlin Gold”.
Sometimes words feel inadequate. They cannot really compete with the senses or fully express the pleasures of a wine. The wine must be drunk to be fully appreciated. Simply put, these wines are glorious.
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