Wild, savoury and powerful, Porseleinberg Syrah is a rare wine that reflects the rugged Swartland terroir with its schistous mountain soils beautifully. This project, led by Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof and with Callie Louw as winemaker, has created wines that are both tannic and ethereal.
‘The idea was to make a wine with a sense of place and time, differing from one year to the next as an expression of the here and now,’ Callie explained[1]. Louw’s minimalist winemaking approach allows the terroir to shine. Grapes are harvested when perfectly ripe, fermented as whole bunches and aged in large oak vats. The result is a wine of concentrated flavour and character, with only 20 000 bottles produced annually.
James Molesworth of Wine Spectator describes this Syrah as ‘ripe and inviting, with warm plum sauce and raspberry pâte de fruit notes wrapped in red liquorice and roasted vanilla details. A sanguine streak contrasts with the fruit and enlivens the finish’.
The wine’s label – created by an old Heidelberg Platen Press – is equally distinctive in its nod to the ‘porcelain mountain’ – the vineyard it’s named after.
In short, Porseleinberg Syrah offers an authentic, terroir-driven experience unlike any other.
With limited online presence, Porseleinberg is a bit elusive, but fans can visit the farm by appointment.
Book a tasting: callie@porseleinberg.com, or pop in at The Wine Kollective in Riebeek Kasteel.