Grapes are sourced from the Langverwagt farm in Kuils River on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Decomposed granite soils overlooking Table Bay and False Bay, a perfect home for maritime Stellenbosch Syrah. Three parcels of vines, all trellised but farmed as a sprawl canopy – trellised bush vine of sorts. Soils are poor, vigour is low and grapes are scarce, all a perfect recipe for classically styled Syrah.

All the fruit is sorted as wholebunches before spontaneous fermentation in conical foudre and open-top fermenters. 30% of the fruit is submerged cap with regular aeration, the balance as open fermentations with 2-4 aerated pump-overs per day. 50% of the fruit as wholebunches. 2-3 weeks on skins is followed by basket pressing and ageing in old 500L barrels for 13 months. The wine then spends a further 10 months in foudre prior to bottling.

2022 was a warmer vintage yielding a Savage Red with a touch more generosity. Plums, lavender, cola, violets and the characteristic Langverwagt white pepper. The palate remains taut and focused to compliment the typical tannins one would get from the granitic soils.A wine that will drink well over the next 10 years.