2019 Stars In The Dark Syrah

Grown on shallow shale and koffieklip soils, Lambson included 100% stems in the blend, though they are barely noticeable as they are so seamlessly assimilated. The wine is then matured in 300 and 400-litre seasoned French oak barrels. It is blessed with a compelling, quite ethereal bouquet that does not burst from the glass, rather it reels you in with pure scents of blackberry, freshly cracked black pepper, pressed iris petals and a touch of rooibos. The 2019 takes around 30 minutes for the marine element to surface, hints of Japanese seaweed join the chorus line, getting more intense on day two. Frankly, I have encountered few South Africa wines with such delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins and a silky smooth texture. Utterly seductive from the start, it combines freshness and harmony to world-class degree. That underlying salinity becomes more prominent towards the finish that is a doppelgänger for Côte-Rôtie. Its black pepper theme lingers on the aftertaste. Re-tasting the bottle after 24 hours, there is absolutely no sign of degradation and it simply reconfirms the outstanding calibre of this sensational wine. Providing you can resist temptation, you could cellar this for at least a decade and claim that you were there (almost) from the beginning.