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Chris Groenewald was in town, bringing nine South African Syrahs with him. So a crowd of us gathered over lunch at The Drapers Arms to taste and drink. These are my notes, mostly written blind. It was a great set of wines.<\/p>\n
Scions of Sinai Syrah 2017 Stellenbosch, South Africa<\/strong> Craven Firs Vineyard Syrah 2017 Stellenbosch, South Africa<\/strong> Terracura 2016 Swartland, South Africa<\/strong> Sons of Sugarland Syrah SH99 2018 Stellenbosch, South Africa<\/strong> Von Loggerenberg Syrah Graft 2018 Stellenbosch, South Africa<\/strong> Savage The Girl Next Door Syrah 2017 South Africa<\/strong> Porseleinberg 2016 Swartland, South Africa<\/strong> Mullineux Syrah Schist 2016 Swartland, South Africa<\/strong> Boschkloof Epilogue 2017 Stellenbosch, South Africa<\/strong>
\nFresh, with just 12.5% alcohol, but I would have expected a bit more from this. This is ripe, meaty and spicy with some raspberry and cherry notes. There’s a hint of blood and iodine, too. Angular and savoury with a slightly sour finish. 90\/100<\/p>\n
\nA lovely restrained Syrah with 12.5% alcohol. This has some sweet meaty, spicy notes on the nose. Fresh with firm tannins and nice grippy structure, with some savoury notes. Compact and restrained with lovely cherry and plum notes. Vibrant, grippy and focused. 93\/100<\/p>\n
\nYou can taste the drought year here: this is meatier and richer than I was expecting. Meaty, smoky, spicy black fruits nose. Fresh palate with sweet cherry and berry fruits with a nice mid palate richness. Savoury, meaty and spicy with firm structure. Very tannic with some peppery notes. Lovely weight. 93\/100<\/p>\n
\nThis was fermented and aged in concrete, no oak. Meaty and peppery, with a blackberry and blackcurrant nose. Has lovely intensity with a hint of olive. Meaty, peppery palate. Direct and sweetly fruited with lovely structure. Floral and delicious. 96\/100<\/p>\n
\nThis comes from the same vineyard as the Sons of Sugarland in the Polkadraai Hills, but it’s made differently. It\u2019s fresh and savoury with restrained, taut red cherry and raspberry fruit. Has lovely tight structure and freshness. Juicy and bright with good structure. Serious: there’s a new Stockinger barrel in play here but the oak is very subtle. 94\/100<\/p>\n
\nRich and dense with sweet fruit. Concentrated yet restrained with sweet black cherries and nice peppery notes. Generous, dense and rich but with good structure and gravelly undertones. Serious effort. 95\/100<\/p>\n
\nConcentrated and dense with expressive black cherry and blackberry fruit. Great concentration of sweet, lush fruit with richness and some inky depth. Concentrated and very ripe \u2013 I suspect this is about the drought year of 2016, rather than a style choice. 94\/100<\/p>\n
\nThis is compact with sweet black and red cherry notes, as well as some raspberry brightness. This has generosity and richness, but also nice structure. Fine grained with lovely fruit intensity. 93\/100<\/p>\n
\nLovely floral nose with black cherries and black pepper. The palate is ripe and salty with fresh fruit and nice richness. Amazing precision despite the ripeness, with perfume and texture. Compact finish. 95\/100<\/p>\n