2010 Porseleinberg
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Tasting Notes
From the original 4.5 hectares, the first vintage of Porseleinberg offers a savoury, bloody, iron-rich nose, with an edge of herbal, menthol notes and dried red fruit. The immense structure is still present, although the tannins have softened with over a decade in bottle. That structure is complemented by a bite of fresher, dark fruit and juicy acidity. Aged for 16 months in 65% foudre and 35% concrete.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Tim Atkin MW
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Porseleinberg is a debut I have not tasted since release. Whole bunch fermented and aged 35% in concrete vats, the remainder in foudres, this awesome Syrah far surpasses my initial estimations. It delivers an intoxicating bouquet of black fruit, wild fennel, dried mint and sage, the kind of nose that evokes images of walking along a country lane in Provence on a hot July evening. The palate is beautifully balanced with lithe tannins, shimmering black fruit laced with aniseed, thyme and sage. There is an unerring sense of symmetry, and the finish is reminiscent of top-level Côte-Rôtie. It is simply magnificent. Whilst I would not begrudge anyone drinking this now, it clearly has a 30-to-40-year lifespan.
This is the first release from this spectacular Swartland site, although parts of the vineyard date back to the late 1990s. Aged in large oak and concrete eggs, the focus here is on fruit rather than oak. It’s a dense, tarry, well-structured red that has the muscularity of a Cornas, with compact, minerally black fruits, hints of clove and liquorice and a long refreshing finish.
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About the producer
Porseleinberg is a single-site Syrah from the Swartland that has, since its first vintage in 2010, become one of South Africa’s most celebrated and sought-after wines. Made by cult winemaker Callie Louw from incredibly poor soils on the slopes of the Porseleinberg, the wine is rightfully revered.