De Trafford - Syrah 393, Stellenbosch - 2013 (750ml)

** THIS WINE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DISCOUNTS

Wine Composition

100% Syrah

Winemakers Comments

Medium deep, purple red color. Lovely chalky, redcurrant and red cherry fruit on the nose with mineral, white pepper and aniseed notes. Persistent smooth chalky dry tannins on the palate with the full range of flavors found on the nose coming through. Enjoy now in its fresh youthfulness, but should also grow and gain complexity over a few years. Ideal between 2016 and 2023. Try with subtle meat dishes such as pork loin and veal or parmesan crusted tender stemmed broccoli.

Awards

Wine Spectator | 93 points

Technical Analysis

Alcohol Percentage

14.72%

TA

5.3 g/l

pH

3.74

RS

1.3 g/l

Cellar Techniques

Handpicking into 20 kg crates. Destemming and gentle crushing directly into small 2-ton open top fermentation tanks. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. 30°C with the cap of skins punched down manually 1 - 3 times a day for 14 days. Wine drained directly to barrels together with a single pressing from a traditional basket press. Malolactic fermentation and maturation in old small French oak - 20 months. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered by hand. 

Winemaker

Name - David Trafford

Winery

De Trafford Winery is situated on the beautiful Mont Fleur farm set at the top of a dramatic valley above Stellenbosch, 380m up between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains, right at the end of the Blaauwklip road, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West.

The history of wine growing on this mountain farm started with the purchase of the property in 1976 by the Trafford family as inaccessible grazing land. Many of the high altitude slopes were deemed suitable for high quality red grape varieties. Unfortunately, due to the absurd quota restrictions, planting a commercial vineyard had to wait 18 years. In 1983 a small vineyard was established to produce experimental wines – consumed by family and friends! These were our learning curve years ( 1984 – 1991 ), which included lots of help and advice from local winemakers and working experience in France, particularly in the Bordeaux area.