Wine: Petite Sirah
Vinyard: Stark-Condé
Address: Oude Nektar Farm Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch, 7600
Vintage: 2020
What the Winemaker says:
Petite Sirah, which is an entirely different grape from Syrah, is a varietal that has only recently been planted in South Africa. There are just a handful of estates bottling this varietal on its own. Petite Sirah is known not only for its intense colour and flavour, but also for its excellent acidity and robust tannin.
Review
Aroma: 18/20
Cherry, plum and blueberries on the nose with a hint of earthiness and herbaceousness.
Appearance: 8/10
An extremely dark red, almost inky colour with long legs that hint at the enriched fruity flavour profile.
Flavour: 37/40
In flavour profile, this would fit perfectly between a Bordeaux blend and a shiraz. There is plenty of dark fruit here from plums to blackberries, blueberries and cherry, with hints of vanilla. This is backed up with a spiciness, that while nowhere near a Shiraz adds a lovely counterpoint. Expect white pepper, with a pine forest floor and hints of mushroom.
Mouthfeel: 10/10
Full-bodied and velvety smooth with a big tannin complement for excellent ageing.
Overall Impression: 17/20
With only a handful of wine farms in SA producing Petit Sirah this wine is a novelty that is well worth trying simply as a point of difference. The fact that it is a good example of the varietal, arguably South Africa’s best, makes it a decent addition to the cellars of any South African wine drinkers.
Total of out of 100 points:
90
Score Breakdown
100 to 95: World beater – Make a plan to try this before you die
94 to 90: Excellent – Drink this now
89 to 85: Good – Thoroughly enjoyable
84 to 75: It’ll do – You won’t remember it
74 and below: Don’t waste your time
