Sui Generis Syrah 2019
Sui Generis (Latin phrase): “in a class by itself”, therefore, “unique”
At the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian
Oceans meet, one finds the ‘Cape of Storms’, better known as Cape
Agulhas. The weather that boils up over the cold Atlantic to meet
its warm Indian counterpart here can be savage, with many a sailor’s
voyage ending fatally on the shallow reefs. To guide sailors away
from disaster, the famous red and white lighthouse was built here in
1848 and stands to this day.
The Elim ward, situated on this peninsula, derives its name from the
Mission Station in Elim – a quaint little town with thatched
cottages, at the heart of which is the mission's church. The name
Elim, meaning “place of God” originates from a biblical reference in
Exodus 15:27. After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites came to
Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and
camped near the water.
The Vineyard
The
wind swept vineyards in the Elim ward are special because of their
variation over even quite small distances. The dominant soil is
locally known as koffieklip
(coffee stone), and is distinctive in its appearance consisting of
lumps of iron-rich clay holding together smaller stones. It is soft
enough to break apart with your hands. There’s also shale, which
closely resembles slate, some granite and quartzite. This stylish,
cool climate Syrah are made from Francis Pratt’s vineyard and the
old Zoetendal vineyard.
In the Winery
Minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process created a
beautiful medium-bodied red wine showcasing the winemaker's mastery
of Elim’s unique, saline and windswept character. After de-stemming,
the wine fermented naturally in open-top fermenters with daily punch-downs. The wine then spent 11 months in 20% new and
older French oak, the balance between the two ensuring that the
nature of the vineyards shines through. The 2019 Syrah has been
called a "benchmark for the region" and embodies the essence of Elim
Syrah being a great example of cool-climate Northern Rhone Syrah.
Technical details:
Alcohol - 13.5 %vol ; pH - 3.72; RS - 1.5 g/l; Total Acid - 5 g/l
Tasting Notes
The wine is restrained and savory with precision and purity in its trademark aromas of fynbos, tealeaf and pepper over plum fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity that lends energy and tension towards the precise and detailed finish. This is a superb, sophisticated and nuanced Syrah that should age with style.
Awards:
94 points - Tim Atkin South Africa 2021 Special Report
93 points - John Platter 2022 South African Wine Guide
Gold Medal - The South African (Old Mutual) Trophy 2021 Wine Show
Lynne Safriel's thoughts: "There is an underlying energy in Elim wines that’s impossible to fully grasp or explain. It’s as though the environment is not passive, rather it is an active participant. And this is what sets the wines apart"