Bellingham Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2018

Bellingham Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah is a powerful aromatic wine that is assertive yet delicate and refined. The nose has tinges of subtle violet and dried indigenous fynbos floral aromas that lead into the palate. Ample cracked black and white pepper spice, hints of rich dark chocolate over a raspberry and blackberry foundation. A generously structured wine with ripe tannins that promises further integration and complexity.

The Bernard Series is a tribute to the determination and maverick spirit of Bellingham’s co-founder Bernard Podlashuk. Celebrates as a trail-blazing visionary, the legend of Bernard’s tenacity and innovative flair lives on through The Bernard Series range of hand-crafted wines, each with a stamp of unmistakable site-specificity and individuality.

100% Syrah. The grapes come from high-lying vineyard blocks yielding 4-8 tons per hectare. The trellised vines grow on deep well-drained soils of decomposed granite.

Harvesting the fruit by hand in mid-season at perfect ripeness. Bunch and berry selection on arrival at the cellar, before crushing and fermentation. Natural fermentation in open 500 L French oak barrels before a gentle pressing in a basket press. The young wine returns to the French oak barriques to complete malolactic fermentation. Following this is 12 months maturation in French oak barriques before bottling.

Ageing potential: Drink now or will age beautiful with cellaring up to 10 years.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

  2022 - 91 POINTS and 4 STARS

Bold blackberry, plump plum, and earthy, supple spice. Rich, ripe, and boy, is he ready?