2021 Savage, Red, Western Cape, South Africa

Just over 13,000 bottles were produced from 70% whole-cluster Syrah.

The 2021 Proprietary Red displays a hint of flint with a kiss of reduction and spicy red fruit essences on the nose. Medium-bodied with 13.8% alcohol, the palate shows impressive depth and freshness with savory and meaty notes before delightful mineral notions of granite and floral potpourri expressions wade across the mid-palate. Currently a little nervous, give it another year in the bottle, and it should govern until its 20th birthday, perhaps even longer. 

Drink 2024 - 2041

This is showing aromas of wild raspberries, moss, pu-erh tea, black peppercorns and crushed rocks. Deep and seamless, with a medium to full body and beautifully polished tannins resulting in a velvety texture rolling into one with the perfectly ripe black fruit. 

Drink or hold

100% Syrah. 13 months in 500-litre barrels.

Glowing crimson. Polished, refined tannins. Sleek and dry with less obvious fruit than the Girl Next Door. Needs food. But long and very fresh.

Drink 2024 - 2030

The 2021 Red Blend includes 70% whole clusters, matured for 13 months in 500-liter barrels and then a year in <em>foudres</em>. The splendid bouquet displays brambly red plummy fruit, crushed stone, bay leaf, and Japanese green tea in the background. The medium-bodied palate has a touch of menthol on the entry and fine depth. It’s fresh with a slightly powdery texture and a saline, focused, surprisingly strict finish. Excellent.

I dropped in to see winemaker Duncan Savage at his Cape Town winery, where he proudly showed me the top floor above the winery that he recently managed to acquire, freeing up a lot more space. “It was quite warm as a vintage,” he tells me. “The 2022s were picked at similar levels to normal, but there was more selection and sorting. We picked 11 tons between 40 people, and 12 people had to carefully sort because of bird damage. The acids are slightly lower than normal. We meddle only where we need to meddle. Chenin Blanc can get rich and flabby, and we have to manage that. So, barrels are stored at around 10° Celsius rather than 16° Celsius in order to keep the whites as tight as possible.” 

This was a brilliant set of distinctive wines from Savage, crowned by a stunning Touriga Naçional/Syrah blend under the “Are We There Yet?” moniker. The Savage Red, which utilises 40% whole clusters, is one of the best released yet, and I feel it's superior to the white counterpart this year.

Drink 2025 - 2042