Johan Reyneke took over his mother's wine farm in 1998 and decided to do things completely differently. He became the first certified biodynamic winemaker and is the only one in South Africa with this certification. His goal is to eventually produce his wines completely self-sufficiently. For example, only natural materials are used for Reyneke's pure and flavorful wines. No artificial ingredients are used, and fermentation in the winery uses only natural yeasts. The estate encompasses 20 hectares of vineyards with stunning views of Stellenbosch. Thanks to its location near False Bay, the grapes enjoy a cooling ocean breeze. Thanks to the abundant sunshine, the grapes ripen well and develop sufficient acidity for fresh and elegant wines.
The Syrah grapes are harvested entirely by hand and then taken directly to the winery. Here, the grapes are sorted by hand before being processed in concrete tanks for alcoholic fermentation. Thirty percent of the grapes are kept as whole bunches, and the remaining 70 percent are destemmed. A spontaneous, natural fermentation takes place. After fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed from the skins and malolactic fermentation begins in French barrels. Finally, the wine is aged for 14 months in oak and another 3 months in stainless steel.
The result is an aromatic Syrah with notes of white pepper, herbs, and red cherries. These notes are followed by aromas of rosemary and lavender. The palate is fresh and lively with juicy tannins. The structure is beautifully balanced with a lovely interplay of fruit and spices, giving this refined wine a pleasantly long finish.
