Pilgrim Wines Syrah 2023

Winter 2022 was cold and wet — a “normal” that’s no longer truly normal in our ever-changing climate. With a major El Niño system in the northern hemisphere, we anticipated unpredictability, yet the season proved one of classic timing and balance.

The 2023 growing season unfolded evenly. Following an unusually wet spring (September 2023 being the wettest in 50 years), vine growth was vigorous but well-managed. As summer arrived, warm and dry conditions took hold, ensuring steady ripening and healthy fruit.

The resulting crop displayed excellent natural acidity, deep colour, and generous fruit concentration — hallmarks of a near-perfect Syrah year. Harvest took place in late February 2023, with grapes arriving cool and pristine at the cellar.

From the outset, the intention remained to craft a Syrah of balance and poise — a “golden mean” between the traditional, fruit-laden South African Shiraz style and the lean, peppery Syrah expression favoured by the modern movement.

For the 2023 vintage, we introduced 30% whole-bunch fermentation, leveraging stems to amplify aromatic lift and structural tension. Additionally, 20% of the de stemmed stalks were added back into the ferment, providing a controlled measure of stalk spice and enhancing phenolic grip.

Fermentation took place in small open-top fermenters, with gentle extraction through regular punch-downs and a carefully managed oxygen regime. The inclusion of stalks contributed both white and black pepper nuances, restoring spice complexity often subdued in clone SH7C.

After pressing, the wine was racked to neutral and third-fill French oak barrels, where it matured gracefully for 24 months. The long élevage refined the tannins into a silk-like texture, integrated the fruit, and allowed natural micro-oxidation to polish the wine’s aromatic layers.

Colour: Deep ruby-red core with a youthful violet rim — vibrant and clear, hinting at the wine’s freshness and longevity.

Nose: Explosively fruit-driven, the aromatics burst with black cherry, mulberry, plum, and ripe raspberry, framed by delicate hints of white and black pepper, violet, and subtle smoky spice from the whole-bunch inclusion. Over time in the glass, notes of dried herbs, aniseed, and cedar gently emerge.

Palate: Smooth, focused, and layered. The palate carries a beautiful weight and volume yet remains light on its feet — the hallmark of great Syrah. Velvety tannins glide seamlessly across the mouth, balanced by bright natural acidity that keeps the wine lively and precise. The fruit purity of SH7C shines through — plush red and black fruits intertwined with savoury spice and graphite minerality. The finish is long, harmonious, and poised, leaving behind a whisper of pepper and dark cherry. A stunningly expressive, modern Syrah that bridges fruit richness with finesse — a vintage that feels both powerful and graceful in equal measure.

Alc: 14.5 % Vol.
pH: 3.57
TA: 5.7 g/l
VA: 0.85 g/l
RS: 2.6 g/l