{"product_id":"damascene-stellenbosch-syrah-2023","title":"Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2023","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element  vc_custom_1634704253452\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element  vc_custom_1634704767206\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eSyrah grapes were sourced from three distinct vineyards; a cloud-covered Polkadraai hill, a granitic outcrop in Bottelary, and a sheltered nook in Devon Valley.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"ultimate-heading-39716ae76c8bb57f0\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-39716ae76c8bb57f0 uvc-7680\" data-hspacer=\"line_only\" data-halign=\"left\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"ultimate-heading-21246ae769b50c29d\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-21246ae769b50c29d uvc-5138\" data-hspacer=\"line_only\" data-halign=\"left\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTES ON THE STELLENBOSCH 2023 VINTAGE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe second half of winter was fairly dry, but it made up for this by delivering more than enough cold units to achieve healthy vine dormancy. Budding occurred without a hiccup, and one might have thought we were in for a smooth ride! December, however, had other plans. Thunderstorms, and the ensuing downpours, caused the vines to go into a frenzy of leaf and shoot growth. This had the double whammy effect of causing disease pressure to skyrocket, and vine nutrients to plummet. It’s at times like these that vineyard site selection is so crucial. Both our Stellenbosch Syrah vineyards sit atop quite exposed hills, placing them directly in the path of consistent breezes. These breezes drastically reduce the disease pressure mentioned above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLater in the season, we endured some “hurry up and wait scenarios” where veraison came early, hinting at an early harvest, only to be followed by a rather lengthy cool spell, which allowed for a longer gentle ripening period. For those who avoided the rains in February and March, it would turn out to be a great vintage. Perhaps the starkest contrast in final wine quality was between growers who were in the vineyards regularly, nimbly responding to growing conditions, and those who were less involved, and had to do damage control after the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe are very fortunate to work with a such dedicated and experienced team, who make traversing this viticultural tightrope look easy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVINEYARD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo vineyards contribute to the making of this wine. The higher of the two blocks was planted in 1996 on a southeast-facing granitic slope at Karibib, in the Polkadraai Hills. It’s situated at 290m ASL; 13km from False Bay. Our second granitic block is a northwest-facing block in the Bottelary Hills, planted at 275m ASL.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINEMAKING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fruit for this wine was harvested by hand between 2nd and 13th March, 2023, at a ripeness of between 23.4 and 24 ̊B. The fruit was chilled down to 8 ̊C overnight prior to fermentation. To showcase the impact of site in the formation of a Stellenbosch Syrah, the harvested fruit was separated into numerous smaller fermentation batches, with a whole cluster fraction of 75 percent per vessel. Fermentation took place in tulip-shaped concrete fermenters, which received pump-overs twice daily. Primary fermentation and malolactic conversion both took place spontaneously. The wine was then matured in 2000-litre conical Austrian oak vats for 11 months. The wine was bottled without fining to ensure a more complex and authentic expression of Syrah.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerhaps the most aromatically complex of the Damascene Syrahs, this Stellenbosch stalwart positively brims with five spice, citrus rind, red plum, cherries, musk candy, and white pepper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe palate delivers a gentle melange of red plums, cherry skins, and whispers of smoked game. This opening salvo spreads right across the palate, run through with seams of star anise, white pepper and cloves. Tannins are moderate in weight, and superbly tidy in the way they present on the finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMATURATION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wine will be at its most expressive between 3 and 5 years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTECHNICAL ANALYSIS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\" style=\"height: 110.110289px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 34.816177px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 34.816177px; width: 44.071931%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVarietals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 34.816177px; width: 55.085834%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Syrah \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 44.071931%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 55.085834%;\"\u003e13.08 %\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 44.071931%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResidual Sugar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 55.085834%;\"\u003e1.2 g\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 44.071931%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 55.085834%;\"\u003e3.7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 44.071931%;\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eTotal Acidity\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px; width: 55.085834%;\"\u003e4.6 g\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wine To Share","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":60789648523550,"sku":"DAM-STB-SYR-23","price":75.05,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/9919\/3658\/files\/Screenshot2026-11-02at00.46.51.png?v=1793551623","url":"https:\/\/winetoshare.com\/products\/damascene-stellenbosch-syrah-2023","provider":"Wine To Share ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}