Philosophy – Sometimes what one thinks is the familiar, is the unfamiliar.  Syrah, or Shiraz, is a grape very much open to interpretation of site, viticulture & viniculture while stubbornly showcasing its inherent traits.  Fledge & Co’s  aim is to craft a reflection of site, vintage & of what they enjoy drinking.

Sandstone shales | Continental Climes

Bokkeveld scali | Ultra Cool Climate

50% Elgin 50% Tradouw

“Si solo la pizzarra podia hablar…”

“If only the shales could speak…”

Vineyard – From an SH-99 Syrah block they call “the reef” which is wedged into shale rich soil with a top layer of chunky sandstone shale, quartz & red clay with a distinct limestone reef running across the middle of the block in near perfect continental climatic conditions.  Combined, with the first vintage from a terraced block perched atop an Elgin hillside on chunky Bokkeveld shale & flecks of quartz ‘n yellow clays.  A tumultuous yet extremely concentrated vintage due to the preceding lean years characterised by small bunches, concentrated flavours at low sugar & generous nervy wines.  Continual tasting in the vineyards & relying on the farmers knowledge of their vines were cardinal to success in this vintage.  The preceding vintages prepared us for the wild ride which was 20-Hateen (tongue in cheek!).

Vinification – The second last fruit of the vintage harvested the 3^rd week of March, each site picked solely on taste.  Crushed into a small open-top cement fermenter, allowed two days cold soak prior to inoculation with a Pinot-specific yeast strain, gently pigeaged over the week long slow cold ferment, gently pressed & racked off into 500L French oak & American oak puncheons (40% new) with the remainder in 300L old French hogsheads for 15 months barrel maturation.  A barrel selection was made & blended, where after the wine spent a further seven months in tank prior to bottling unfined & unfiltered.  Only yeast & small amounts of sulphur are added during the process.