2021 Connect the Dots Syrah

Stellenbosch adds grip and floral notes to the wine, Elgin shows a luxurious, spicy pluminess and Darling brings a tart and spicy note to the blend. I believe that together they all achieve the goal of showing how well Syrah thrives in the cooler microclimates of the Cape.
Exploring the diversity of Syrah grown in the cool microclimates of the Cape is my passion, and this label is another step in my relentless search for the best sites in the Winelands. I work closely with growers who share my passion for Syrah and precision viticulture. The idea is to provide a snapshot of Cape Syrah in a given year and combine the results in one bottle. In other words: Connect The Dots.
The first vintage of Connect The Dots in 2019 comes from plots in Stellenbosch and Elgin. In 2020, we return to the same areas, and this blend includes fruit from the granite soils of Stellenbosch's Polkadraai and Helderberg, a new parcel of Table Mountain sandstone in Elgin and, for the first time, parcels in the ferruginous clay soil of Darling. Each of these sites brings something different to the mix and it is always fascinating to see what unfolds when nature takes over. The early and even budding of the vines was kick-started by a warm spring, which contributed to a larger crop. Later in the season, the challenge of keeping the fruit healthy until harvest kept us on our toes. Strong winds dampened vigor and there was frequent rainfall during ripening, accompanied by cool temperatures. However, the conditions in the vineyard were only of secondary importance when it came to pressing the fruit in the cellar before the first Covid lockdown hit! (We made it with just two adrenaline-fueled days to spare...)

Grape variety: Syrah

Alcohol content: 13.5% vol.
Allergen information: Contains sulphites.

Bottler, importer: CAPEWEINE.COM, Unterortwang 11b, DE-87545 Burgberg