2025 Van Loggerenberg Graft Syrah

The 2025 Graft is 100% Syrah from granite soils in Polkadraai, 100% whole bunch, aged 60% in concrete and 40% in French oak (10% new). It has an intense nose with blackberry, blueberry, crushed violet and crushed stone that blossom in the glass. Superb delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and chiselled tannins (once again), supremely well balanced, and it just fans out so stylishly on the finish. Brilliant. 98 points

Lukas van Loggerenberg shares this Syrah block with Jean Smit of Damascene and Reenen Borman of Boschkloof, all of whom make exceptional wines from it. The 2025 is more approachable than the 2024 release at the same stage, with real sense of purpose and selfconfidence, effortlessly integrated 100% whole clusters, layers of fennel, sage, white pepper and blackberry, structured, sinewy tannins and wonderful focus. A red for grown-ups. 98 points