2022 Stars In The Dark Syrah

The Syrah comes from a vineyard with a pretty extreme climate ('in the South African context', winemaker Lambson says). The groundwater is saline and brackish and the vineyard is just five kilometres from sea. This has the smell of a wind blowing over rocks and dried herbs. I see exactly exactly what Lambson means by salt and pepper (and white pepper). It tastes of black cardamom and roses. This has such a beautiful moment-before-the-storm feel; an inner tension; a breathlessness; a sense of waiting. The tannins are long and have a flute-like mellifluousness, almost a sense a keening. Garrigue/fynbos perfume on the finish. (TC)