Damascene - Swartland WO - Syrah - Red - 2021

Wine:

Grown on granite and schist soils, the 2021 Swartland Syrah Red delivers a beautifully pure and aromatic expression, where spice and structure come together with remarkable depth. Whole-cluster fermentation captures the soul of the terroir, revealing wild berry, plum, and cherry notes layered with hints of cured meat and savory spice. It’s an elegant Syrah, with fine, powdery tannins and a fresh backbone that carries through to a long, persistent finish. A textbook Swartland Syrah—vibrant, expressive, and full of character.Rated 93/100 by James Suckling and 94/100 by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Vinification with indigenous yeasts. Alcoholic fermentation in 1,000-liter concrete and wooden vats. Aged for 11 months in 2,000-liter wooden vats.

Color:

Intense garnet red with purple highlights.

Nose:

Delicate aromas of plum and cherry underscored by a hint of spice.

Palate:

A delicate structure, silky, well-integrated tannins and persistent acidity on the palate.

Temperature:

Serve at 14–16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Beef and bell pepper skewers, pulled pork with black pepper, grilled lamb chops with rosemary.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2034

Launched in 2018 by Jean Smit, Damascene is a bold new project that made an immediate impression with its debut vintage. After gaining experience in California and in Côte-Rôtie with none other than Stéphane Ogier, Smit returned to South Africa to bring his ultimate vision to life—an all-in, deeply personal take on winemaking.

Both the reds and whites are crafted with whole-cluster pressing, then fermented and aged in large wooden casks, in a brand-new cellar built to match the estate’s high ambitions. In addition to fruit from the estate’s own vineyards, Smit scours the Western Cape to source exceptional grapes and reveal unique expressions of terroir.

Production is tiny, but the quality is outstanding. Rhône Syrah lovers—you’re in for a surprise.