Craven, The Firs Vineyard Syrah, 2023
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Syrah is up there as a contender for our favourite grape, particularly when the winemaking highlights the fragrant black fruit and pepper aromas associated with the Northern Rhone. Here, Mick and Jeanine use 100% whole bunch and a bit of foot treading to focus on these hallmark aromas whilst maintaining this Syrah’s new world accent.
Syrah / 13% / Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Syrah is up there as a contender for our favourite grape, particularly when the winemaking highlights the fragrant black fruit and pepper aromas associated with the Northern Rhone. Here, Mick and Jeanine use 100% whole bunch and a bit of foot treading to focus on these hallmark aromas whilst maintaining this Syrah’s new world accent.
Syrah / 13% / Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Syrah is up there as a contender for our favourite grape, particularly when the winemaking highlights the fragrant black fruit and pepper aromas associated with the Northern Rhone. Here, Mick and Jeanine use 100% whole bunch and a bit of foot treading to focus on these hallmark aromas whilst maintaining this Syrah’s new world accent.
Syrah / 13% / Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
