If you’re searching for the perfect wine for a hostess gift or party, look no further than this sustainable, organic wine from South Africa.
Reyneke’s bottle looks like it was made for lovers of poetry, as they’ve laser etched beautiful, flowery words into the glass. What’s inside is also a nod to the best nature can provide, with the grapes in this Syrah being farmed biodynamically and the wine made without the use of yeasts, enzymes or added acidity.
According to the winemaker, half of the grapes are fermented using a submerged cap fermentation process (keeping the grapes in contact with the skins for longer, with the remaining half of the grapes were fermented on broken whole clusters with added stems. The wine spent 14 month in used French oak barrels. The results of this labor intensive process are obvious in this stellar wine vintage.
Wine: Reyneke Syrah 2012, South Africa
Varietals: 100% Syrah
Color: Deep ruby with hints of violet on the rim
Notes: Dark, ripe berries on the palate, tart raspberries, anise and spice. Perfumey and delicate, but bold enough to stand up to food pairings. ABV is 14.5%.
Pairing: Big game, peppered duck, or roasted lamb chops. Butternut squash soup, or an heirloom tomato salad with burratta cheese.
Recommendation: Drink now through 2020
Suggested retail price: $21