Red

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $54.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Savage Wines

VINTAGE

2018

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Western Cape, South Africa

GRAPE

Syrah

Winemaker Notes

Duncan Savage was the winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards' for 14 vintages. In 2011, he started his own label on the side. Through his time at Cape Point, Duncan grew to understand maritime vineyards and crafted a reputation for profound and saline whites with great aging potential; this led him to source grapes for his own project, Savage Wines, from similar maritime and high altitude sites. His wines were met with great acclaim and in 2016 he quit his job to turn his attention to his namesake project. At first he created wine by borrowing other people's wineries but today he uses his own winery in Salt River, Cape Town. Duncan is no doubt one of the best winemakers in South Africa. In fact, Tim Atkin (MW) has proclaimed, "Duncan Savage thinks he hasn't hit his full potential yet. Heaven help his rivals when he does.

95 Points, Vinous

Duncan Savage is unquestionably proudest of both his eponymous signature white blend and of course his Savage red, and rightly so. These wines represent the true essence of the Savage brand however many new labels may be added to the range now or in years to come. Since 2017, this flagship wine has been made exclusively from 100% pure Syrah, and from 2018, 100% pure Stellenbosch Syrah! Produced from fruit grown on the famous Polkadraai Hills decomposed granite soils of Southern Stellenbosch, these organically farmed grapes spent three weeks on their skins with 50% whole bunches employed in fermentation. After secondary malolactic fermentation, the wine spent 13 months in 500 litre French oak barrels and then a further 9 months in 3,200 litre conical foudres. The aromatics chime a different tune to those of the meaty Swartland Syrahs. More base than treble, this wine’s aromatics show an impressively deep, compact red berry fruit concentration, a savoury, brambly, damson plum palate breadth that’s delicately massaged by a soft, pure granitic acidity. There is a real translucent, weightless, purity of flavour to the fruits, a true crystalline 2018 elegance and a supple, fleshy, seamless talcum powder fine tannin texture on the finish. True to the vintage, this wine will give immense drinking pleasure from release and probably hit its quality zenith at 8 to 10+ years of age. (11,400 bottles produced.)