KYSELA® Mullineux Syrah 2008 (Swartland, South Africa) – Wine Spectator [90 pts] – 6045747347615

About This Wine:

“Our aim with our Syrah is to give true and complete expression to the Shale, Schist and Granite terroirs in which the vines grow.”

Source of Grapes: Grapes for our 2008 Syrah come from six vineyard parcels in different parts of the Swartland: Three parcels planted in the stony Shale and Schist based soils of Riebeek Kasteel Mountain; two parcels of dry land bushvines grown in the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg Mountain; and one on the rolling, clay & iron-rich soils west of Malmesbury. Vines are aged between 12 and 18 years.

Winemaking

Hand-picked grapes are cooled in our cold room, whereafter they are crushed and destemmed to tank, and between 5 to 25% whole bunches are added. 25ppm SO2 is added, and as with all our wines, no other additions are made. The must is initially pigeaged once a day. After about 4 days, fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts, and the wine is pigeaged once or twice a day, depending on extract and tannin development. Temperatures are not allowed to exceed 30 degrees Centigrade. Fermentation lasts from 7 to 10 days, and after fermentation, an additional 2 to 4 weeks (also depending on tannin development) skin contact is given. The wine is then drained and pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. The different parcels are racked in Spring to blend the wine, which is then returned to barrel and bottled unfiltered and unfined after 11 months in barrel. Please decant (or give time in the glass!) when drunk young.

Maturation: 11 months in a combination of very tight French oak 225L barriques and 500L demi muids. 15% new.

Tasting Notes

This perfumed Syrah has notes of black pepper, refined black fruit, smoke and herbs. The palate is full bodied and spicy, with a silky texture and a balanced natural acidity. The long finish is fresh and surprisingly long and supple. Best served at 16 to 18 C, this wine will greatly benefit from decanting when drunk within the first 3 to 5 years after bottling.

90 Points – Wine Spectator Magazine:
“Very juicy, with ripe, enticing plum and fig notes laced with a tangy sanguine streak. The long, fleshy finish lets spice and graphite notes emerge. This has good buried grip. Not imported into the U.S. Drink now through 2010. 1,300 cases made.” –JM (9/30/2009)