The Devonian 2021

This wine has elegant top notes of apricot and yellow peach, and a rounded mid palate with a gentle creamy texture, and hints of minerality. The finish is long, with gripping acidity and fruit held in balance. The wine will continue to age in the bottle for at least 8 to 10 years.

The vineyards are situated in the heart of the Swartland along the Babylonstoren Road, backing onto the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain. The vineyards for this wine are bush vines, from Certified Heritage Vineyards, planted between 1983 and 1968. Viticulture in this area of the Cape is focused on minimal interference, drylands farming, to preserve grape character. The vines are low yielding and produce small, intensely flavoured bunches. The grapes were hand-picked when phenolically ripe, early in the morning to maintain freshness.

Decomposed granite

Once in the cellar, the grapes are cooled overnight, bunch sorted, before being transferred to barrel for fermentation. Spontaneous fermentation occurs and the wine was left on the lees for 3 months, racked, then returned to French 300-liter barrels to complete aging. Bottling occurred in December 2021 and only 2100 bottles of this vintage were made.