2019 Swartberg Wingerde Miracle Bush Red

The Piekenierskloof gets its name from the Dutch soldiers known as the 'piqneniers' (piekenmen), who were sent to the 'Groote Clooff' during the Second Khoi-Dutch War in 1673 to protect convoys crossing this mountain pass. A rugged wilderness with naked rock formations. The gnarled bushvines of this region include Grenache noir vines that are said to have been planted on the Piekenierskloof plateau as early as the early 1700s. Legend has it that during his exile on the island of St Helena in the early 1800s, Napoleon Bonaparte drank a sweet wine that came from these Grenache noir vines. A unique terroir of dry farming at an elevation of 550-750 m above sea level and the cold, harsh sea influence of the west coast shape these individual wines.

The Swartberg Wingerde wines are made by Rudiger Gretschel, known as production director at Vinimark ao Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek) and the winemaker at Reyneke (Stellenbosch). Rudiger has now also made wine under his own label after almost 20 years of searching for the most suitable plots in Piekenierskloof.

If there is an artistic element to winemaking, it must certainly be the art of blending. The greater whole must be superior to the sum of its parts. The Miracle Bush Red is a blend of Grenache noir, Syrah and Pinotage. The Pinotage is the backbone and skeleton of this wine, with its fine and structured tannins. The Syrah adds the spicy notes and depth in the mouth, as well as the deep ruby ​​red color. The lightness and freshness of the Grenache rounds out the blend and gives it total elegance with a capital E.

The Pinotage vineyard located on alluvial soils is 30 years old. Like the Syrah and Grenache, these bushvines are grown on dry soil. Picked by hand, the grapes are chilled overnight in a cold room. The Pinotage is completely destemmed while some crushed whole clusters are introduced into the Syrah and Grenache fermentations. Spontaneous fermentations of natural yeasts take place in concrete fermentation tanks. The wine is aged for 16 months in a combination of 2500l French foudre and 225l barrique. All oak is lightly toasted to preserve the freshness and integrity of the fruit of the grapes. This red mix of Grenache noir, Syrah and Pinotage gives this Miracle Bush Red an intense spicy nose with notes of violets and red berries. In the mouth the wine is elegant, medium bodied with a perfect ratio between the alcohol (only 12.5%), the fresh red fruit, the pepper and the nice acidity and all this is framed with beautiful mineral notes which are very typical of the wines of Swartberg winged.

FACT: Only a few thousand bottles in total are made of the Swartberg Wingerde wines and the Dutch Allocation is very minimal.