Lelie Van Saron Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Syrah 2020

SOUTH AFRICA : WESTERN CAPE : UPPER HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE : Syrah MED-BODIED, BLACK CHERRY, VIOLET, WHITE PEPPER, CLOVE, OAK Natasha Williams grew up in Saron — a small, dry Swartland town — in a household where wine was forbidden. Today she makes one of South Africa's most talked-about Syrahs, from a single block on decomposed granite soils in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, with the Atlantic barely three miles away keeping the fruit cool and focused. The 2020 was fermented with 40% whole clusters in open-top stainless steel, aged 12 months in neutral French oak, then bottle-aged two more years before release. Tim Atkin MW 93 pts: "pepper, violet and clove aromas, red cherry and tangerine flavours, stylish oak and a focused, racy, tapering finish." Drinking window 2023–28. 192 cases made. PAIRINGS : Roasted leg of lamb with rosemary peppery Syrah and fine tannins match lamb's herbal richness perfectly Grilled venison or game sausages red cherry and cracked pepper handle game's earthiness without getting lost Duck breast with cherry sauce the wine's red fruit and clove notes resonate with duck and fruit preparations

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