2022 Spice Route Chakalaka

Charles Back, owner of Spice Route, is one of the pioneers in Swartland. In the late 1990s he found a vineyard with Sauvignon Blanc vines that were over thirty years old and that produced wine of exceptional quality. Together with winemaker Eben Sadie he planted new grape varieties around this oldest block of Sauvignon, mostly as free-standing bushes, so-called 'bush vines'. The basis of the winery became an old tobacco barn, formerly called Klein Amoskuil. The wines of Spice Route quickly became a success!

The success of these and other producers in this innovative region (there is even talk of a 'Swartland Revolution') is determined by a combination of two elements. Firstly, the deep soils (weathered granite and 'Koffieklip') in which the vines can root deeply to find water. Then there is the climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

The Spice Route Chakalaka (which can be translated as 'leftovers') is the wine that made The Spice Route internationally very famous. It is a blend of no less than 6 different grapes that are processed, all of which come from 1 vineyard. This trend (although it used to be like this) is now also making a comeback in Spain and Italy and the well-known winemaker Telmo Rodrigues has become known for this old-fashioned new trend and only works with vineyards that have diversity and therefore different grape varieties.

The Chakalaka is a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Tannat, Grenache and Petit Syrah. In the glass the wine is ruby red with plums and ripe black fruit, cloves, tobacco and vanilla in the nose. In the mouth a very rich structure, ripe tannins. The wine is difficult to put in a box and is simply unique and very beautiful. Perhaps the best match is with an Amarone or a Ripasso because of the jammy character of the wine. Enjoyment with a capital E for a beautiful price.