DAMASCENE
2023 Syrah Ceres Plateau
| Grapes | Syrah |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | South Africa, Western Cape |
| Village | Ceres Plateau |
| ABV | 14% |
A very fresh and elegant syrah that has fragrant thyme, sour-cherry, wild-raspberry and balsamic aromas. It’s medium-bodied, silky and bright. Delightful. Drink now or hold. Rating: 93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Nov 2024)
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Vines planted on Bokkeveld shale at 1,050 metres altitude. 60% whole bunch with full submerged cap for 10 days. 2000 litre conical vats for 10 to 11 months ageing. The aromatics are earthy and brambly, full of wild flowers, lilac, red apple, wet loam, and damson plum with delicate sweet orange peel and black cherry nuances. The palate is sleek and silky, beautifully polished and fine with intense fine grained tannins, weightless zero gravity fruit concentration and a chalky, gravelly, dusty, minerality on the finish. A unique expression of Syrah. Rating: 94 Greg Sherwood MW (Nov 2024)
The 2023 Syrah Ceres Plateau comes from Bokkeveld shale soils, planted at 1,000 meters in elevation and picked the day before the harvest rains. It incorporates 60% whole cluster and submerged cap maceration to soften the tannins, taken off the skins a little quicker than the other Syrahs. This has a "cool" bouquet, tightly wound at first but unfolding with black fruit, black olive, a touch of garrigue and melted tar. Very Old World in style, the palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry. Finely balanced, the 2023 is more compact on the finish than the Stellenbosch cuvée, therefore I would afford this three or four years in bottle. Drinking range: 2027 - 2042 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2024)
Damascene
Damascene is a seriously exciting new find for us in South Africa. Their maiden vintage here was 2018 and we were blown away by the results. 2019, their second vintage was sold out on release, read the press release HERE.
The highly acclaimed Jean Smit, previously winemaker at Boekenhoutskloof, has teamed up with David Curl, former owner of Bordeaux’s Chateau Gaby.
Their goal is to explore all across the South African winelands in search of exceptional sites. Sites that deliver an important moment of insight, and hence the name of the project. A Damascene moment of clarity, where we can all understand the greatness of these small, prized plots.
The vineyards are old and well established but small, so each of these brilliant wines is only released in very small quantities. We urge you to catch them while you can.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
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Another gorgeously proportioned and fragrant Pinot from this brilliant cooler part of South Africa. Bright red fruits burst from the glass with raspberry, cherry and damson, undercut with delicate earthy spice. Vivacious...(read more)
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2020 DAMASCENE Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch
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Displaying beautiful oak aromas with fresh, red fruit tones, the 2020 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy with notes of cranberry skin and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the palate offers a firm, rocky minerality tha...(read more)
Anthony Mueller, The Wine AdvocateORDER COLLECT
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