In 1998, Johan Reyneke took over his mother's farm. He decided to take a different direction with his winemaking. He now operates entirely according to the rules of organic farming. However, Reyneke also believes in the philosophy of Rudoph Steiner, who uses herbs, minerals, and cosmic cycles to contribute to agriculture. With this approach, Johan has become one of the pioneers in Stellenbosch, South Africa. He uses significantly less sulfites because the grapes are harvested more healthily. And thanks to the natural yeasts used, the quality of the wines has also been significantly improved. Reyneke's wines are all pure, concentrated, and complex. The estate encompasses 20 hectares of vineyards with stunning views of Stellenbosch. Thanks to its location near False Bay, the grapes enjoy a cooling ocean breeze. The abundant sunshine allows the grapes to ripen well and develop sufficient acidity for fresh and elegant wines.
The Syrah grapes are carefully harvested at peak ripeness and taken almost immediately to the winery. Here, strict quality control and sorting follow. Thirty-five percent of the grapes are placed in concrete vats as whole bunches and pressed. The remaining wine is first destemmed, followed by spontaneous fermentation. The wine is left to rest as much as possible and matures for 22 months in French oak barrels.
The result is an elegant red blend with an aromatic character. Notes of violets, white pepper, and anise are clearly present. The palate boasts firm tannins with beautiful structure and complexity. The warm notes are also beautifully expressed in the palate and continue into a long, pleasant finish.
